(DIP) TURKEY EXPECTS SPAIN TO SUPPORT ITS EU MEMBERSHIP, MINISTER.

MADRID, Nov 16, 2009 (TUR) -- The Turkish foreign minister expressed on Monday Turkey's expectation that Spain should support its European Union (EU) membership.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that Spain, which would take over the rotating presidency of the EU in the first half of 2010, would launch activities in Europe backing Turkey's membership.

"The Spanish presidency of the EU should also work to eliminate technical problems in launching Turkey-EU negotiations on several chapters, and opening of new chapters," Davutoglu told Turkish reporters in the Spanish capital of Madrid.

Davutoglu is actually paying a formal visit to Spain.

"During its presidency, Spain should also contribute to Turkey's EU membership bid, and work to enable the union fulfil its commitments to lift embargoes on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and to make the union more unbiased," Davutoglu also said.

Davutoglu said Turkey would support any good-willed initiative in the Middle East.

"Turkey is backing Obama's Middle East policy, and it will also support such an initiative of France if launched," he said.

Davutoglu said that Turkey was ready to mediate between Israel and Syria again in case two countries wanted, and also said Turkey was considering the issue only within the framework of regional peace.

King Juan Carlos of Spain received Davutoglu earlier on Monday. Davutoglu is expected to proceed to Barcelona later in the day to inaugurate Turkey's Consulate General in this Spanish city.

(BRC-A)

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