Prague, April 29, SPA --Czech President Vaclav Klaus, whose country chairs the European Union until June 30, today backed Turkey'saspirations to join the 27-member bloc, according to dpa. "I would like to repeat and resolutely and loudly say that theCzech Republic is on the side of those who support Turkey's entry tothe EU," Klaus said after meeting his Turkish counterpart AbdullahGul in Prague. The negotiations have been also hindered by Ankara's refusal torecognize the Greek part of Cyprus, an island state in theMediterranean which has joined the EU five years ago. The island hasbeen divided between its Turkish and Greek populations since 1974. In the four years since Turkey's accession negotiations started in2005, talks began on 10 of 35 chapters, which must be completedbefore the country's EU entry. Klaus, a vocal EU critic, belittled the negotiations that the EUconducts with candidates such as Turkey. "Opening and closing chapters is a bureaucratic game. It is not aserious matter," he told reporters after meeting with Gul. "I thinkthe political will is decisive." Gul confirmed that a Turkish delegation is scheduled to travel toPrague for a May 8 EU summit, which is to tackle bloc's plans tobring Central Asian gas to Europe without crossing Russia.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/659321