UK says bombs won't hurt Turkey's EU bid

[Socialist Christian]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s994932.htm

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British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the Istanbul bombings hardened Britain's determination to see Turkey join the EU as soon as possible.

But the European Union's point man for enlargement said sympathy for Turkey's plight after four blasts in a week did not mean it could duck the difficult political and human rights reforms needed before entry talks can begin.

At least 30 people were killed in Thursday's bombings at the Istanbul headquarters of London-based HSBC Bank and on the British consulate, adding to the 25 people killed in Saturday blasts at two synagogues in the city.

"Far from this hurting Turkey's application to join the European Union, it will increase the determination of all of us to see Turkey a full member," Mr Straw told reporters at the scene of one of Thursday's blasts.