It is always useful to have a dialogue : Finland, Lithuania oppose suspending Turkey’s EU talks

EU members Finland and Lithuania have opposed Germany’s move to suspend Turkey’s EU membership talks amid recent tensions between Ankara and European capitals.


Speaking to reporters ahead of an informal EU foreign affairs meeting in Estonia on Thursday, Finland’s foreign minister Timo Soini voiced his country’s support for the continuation of Turkey’s EU membership process.

"I think that it is always useful to have a dialogue," he said and dismissed cutting negotiations with Turkey despite "problems".

“If we do not talk to each other, this is not a very constructive way to go forward,” he added.

Lithuania’s foreign minister Linas Linkevicius also turned down recent calls by German politicians to end Turkey’s EU talks, and warned that such a move could have counterproductive consequences.

“We should continue the process and the engagement, “ he stressed.

The future of Turkey’s EU membership talks has become a major topic in the German parliamentary elections campaign on Sept. 24.
 [aa.com.tr]
7/9/17