LONDON, Nov 8: Foreign Secretary David Miliband on Friday reassured Turkey of Britain’s commitment to support its bid to join the European Union.

He was speaking at a joint press conference along with the visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan.Mr Miliband said Turkey would make a “huge contribution” to the European Union and “the European Union could be of great benefit to Turkey as well”.

The foreign secretary described the European Union’s report on Turkish accession progress as “a fair and balanced account” for last year which he said has been a tough year for the people of Turkey, for the government of Turkey.

“I think it is very important that we in the European Union reiterate our support for reaching out to help support the development of Turkey, the modern European country that is proud of its roots and proud of its history, but also embraces a European future,” Mr Miliband added.

When a questioner pointed out that Turkey’s public opinion in favour of joining the EU was disappearing because of continued opposition in France and Germany and holding out on Turkey while allowing membership to Romania and Bulgaria, and with Croatia about to join, Miliband said that the aspiration of Turkish people to join the EU were well founded and “our determination to reach out to them is also well founded”.