European Parliament president arrives in Turkey

(ANKARA) - European parliament president Jerzy Buzek, on a two-day visit to Turkey, called Thursday for renewed talks on Turkey's bid to join the European Union, stalled by a dispute over Cyprus.

"Turkish-EU accession negotiations have been in deadlock for months and I believe if we can take steps forward, this will lead to consequences which will be to the benefit of both sides," Buzek told the Turkish parliament, in remarks carried by the state-run Turkish Radio and Television.

Turkey and the EU began formal accession negotiations in 2005 but since then Brussels has opened with Ankara only 13 of the 35 policy chapters that every state must negotiate in order to join the bloc. Just one chapter has closed.

Turkish-EU talks have stalled over problems relating to EU member Cyprus, the divided island part held by Turkey.

There has also been growing unease shown by the leaders of France and Germany over enlargement to include a massive, mainly Muslim emerging economic and strategic power.

Buzek expressed "serious concerns" about the latest twists in the Cyprus dispute.

Turkey has threatened to freeze relations with the EU if the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot government is given the rotating presidency of the bloc in 2012 before a solution is reached to reunify the divided island.

Buzek repeated the European parliament's support for the UN-brokered negotiations between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders, adding that "all efforts should concentrate on a settlement."

The parliament president also praised Turkey's role in the Middle East, saying the country's secular democracy is a "source of inspiration" for those who want to be rid of authoritarian regimes in the Middle East and North Africa.

He called on the Turkish parliament to speed up reforms and handle issues concerning freedoms and minority rights.

The recent arrest of several journalists charged with aiding a shadowy group aiming to topple the Islamist-rooted government sparked concerns about freedom of expression in Turkey.

The concerns were underscored in an annual report by the European Commission last month on the status of Ankara's EU membership bid.

On Friday, Buzek will meet with Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.