Ankara wishes for no setbacks in negotiations with EU

Turkey does not want any "political setback" in its negotiations with the EU, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a joint news conference following the 4th Reform Action Group in capital Ankara, Çavuşoğlu said: "We want to receive something in return for our efforts, including a visa-free regime, and we don't desire any political setback."

He was joined with Justice Minister Abdülhamit Gül, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak at the news conference in the capital Ankara.

"In our relations with the EU, we will primarily focus on issues that are currently underway and we can get results," the foreign minister added.

The resumption of Customs Union negotiations and the exemption of visa-free regime are among the issues, the minister said.

Turkey aims for a closer cooperation with the European Council, Çavuşoğlu also said.

He said Turkey expected enhanced EU support on counterterrorism, namely against terror groups such as the PKK, the Fetullah Terror Organization (FETO) and Daesh, in Europe.

Turkey applied for EU membership in 1987 while accession talks began in 2005.

The talks between Turkey and the EU stalled in 2007 due to the objections of the Greek Cypriot administration in the divided island of Cyprus, as well as opposition from Germany and France.

A joint declaration, issued following the meeting, stressed measures and improvements in counterterrorism.

It also stressed the firm stance to continue reforms in the field of judicial and fundamental rights, adding that the presidential system of government will play a supporting role in this process.

On Turkey-EU relations, the declaration said: "We [Turkey] primarily expect the EU to revive the accession talks."

Turkey also wants the EU to finalize the Visa Liberalization Dialogue, to start the negotiations on the updating of Customs Union, to implement the Voluntary Humanitarian Acceptance Program and to accelerate the financial assistance to the Syrians in Turkey, it added.