Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini has given his backing to full EU accession for Turkey, and criticised EU offers of partial membership deals.
Frattini told daily newspaper Il Giornale's politics and economy magazine Dossier Lazio that it was not right for Turkey to be offered a "privileged partnership" by some member countries instead of full membership.
Frattini went on to talk about the massive benefit that Turkey's EU accession could have on relations between the west and the Islamic world, which have fallen to tragic lows of late.
He said that as well as being seen as Islam, democracy and human rights in harmony, but that it would also be a testament to the EU's capacity to embrace different cultures.
"This is a significant historic target which we cannot give up," he said.
Staunchly supportive, Frattini was also quick to tow the party line, he said that Turkey had a long path to accession, and that currently that path did not look easy or promising. He said that Turkey's foreign policy preferences are causing doubts in some EU capitals, and urged Turkey not to give up on reforms.
Turkey should feel it has reached the finish line when it has fulfilled its present obligations, the Italian minister said, warning that it would be a grave mistake to alter the finish line.
Turkey became an official EU candidate in 2005, since then negotiations have moved at a snail's pace. Some now believe that Turkish membership is becoming as necessary for the EU as it is for Turkey, with the latter's greater growth and moves like the Nabucco pipeline.
On the flip side and for much the same reasons,EU membership has and is becoming less and less neccesary for Turkey, it would still boost the Turkey property market though.
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