22/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - Speaking in Istanbul, Turkey, on Thursday 22 November 2007, Italy's foreign affairs minister, Massimo D'Alema, said that Italy backed 100% Turkey's accession to the EU. During a joint Turkish-Italian forum, D'Alema said European had to confirm that it was opening up to Turkey and Turkey has to become a full member of the EU. He urged the Turkish authorities, however, to make greater efforts to move forward in the reform process and prepare the country to join the EU. I have and I am sure that we will see greater reforms in Turkey, said D'Alema, adding that Turkish society was calling for the reforms. He called for changes to be made to Article 301 of Turkey's Penal Code. D'Alema said that 2008 would be a good year for settling the Cypriot issue. Slovenian prime minister Janez Jansa will be chairing the European Council in the first half of 2008. During a visit to Ankara, Turkey, on 21 November, he too expressed support for Turkey's accession process to join the EU. (H.B.)