[Published: Thursday August 04 2016]
 EU's Juncker rejects Austria's push to freeze Turkey accession talks
Brussels, 04 August. - (ANA) - European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said in remarks published on Thursday that it would be counterproductive to freeze accession talks with Turkey, rejecting a push by Austria to halt membership talks.
Juncker told German public broadcaster ARD that Turkey is currently unfit to become a member of the European Union, in comments that could further strain relations between Ankara and the bloc it is seeking to join after a failed military coup.
"Turkey, in the state it is currently in, cannot become a member of the European Union," Juncker told ARD in Brussels. "And certainly not if it reintroduces the death penalty as some are demanding."
He added: "I don't think it would be helpful if we would unilaterally tell Turkey that the negotiations are over. - (ANA) -
AB/ANA/ 04 August 2016 - - -
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