The European Union will insist on Ankara’s observance of fundamental human rights during further stages of talks on Turkey’s EU bid, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.

Merkel told Bundestag that Turkey is an important partner of the EU, but European values are always valid and are non-negotiable, ITAR-TASS reported.

She said it was a right decision to continue talks on Turkey’s EU bid. At the same time, in the context of violence used against demonstrators, EU would not act as if nothing had happened.