Turkey with a Muslim population of 75 million people should enter EU, says Hungarian President Schmitt

BUDAPEST (A.A) - Hungarian President Pal Schmitt said that "Turkey with a Muslim population of 75 million people should be accepted into the European Union (EU)". Speaking to the Hungarian media after a recent visit to Turkey, President Schmitt said that when Turkey fulfilled the EU criteria, it should become a member of the EU. There is no need to fear Turkey with a population of 75 million people. Hungary's stance on Turkish membership in the EU is clear, said Schmitt. Once Turkey fulfills the EU criteria, Turkish membership in the EU is inevitable. There is no need for the EU, with a population of half a billion, to fear Turkey with a population of 75 million people. I do not want to criticize the Cypriots or any other groups but we invited Turkey to the EU in 2005. Turkey has been a NATO member for a very long time, Schmitt also said.