The reason for Slovenia’s positive position on Turkey’s membership in the European Union (EU) is that Turkey started negotiations with the EU long before Slovenia joined the EU, Slovenian President Danilo Türk told a press conference in Yerevan.

He stressed Slovenia is for EU expansion. Although the negotiations for Turkey’s members are progressing slowly, Ankara must be well aware that all the EU members must meet the organization’s standards, without any exceptions, the Slovenian leader said.

He stressed that Slovenia welcomes the signing of Armenian-Turkish protocols in Zurich and urges Ankara to continue its dialogue with Yerevan, ratify and implement the protocols as soon as possible.

The Slovenian President is on an official visit to Armenia. An Armenian-Slovenian business forum is on the visit agenda as well. President Danilo Türk is being accompanied by 35 leading Slovenian businessmen.