10/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - The Socialist Group at the European Parliament continues to support Turkey's rapprochement to the EU and considers that the talks on membership should continue. “The European Union is unanimously engaged in this process. It must honour its commitments”, states a press release from Martin Schulz, who is president of the group. At the same time, the Socialist Group notes with “considerable concern” the attitude and the involvement of the Turkish armed forces in political life. “Those who believe that the army can protect secularism are mistaken. Intervention by the army in a country's internal affairs runs counter to the Copenhagen criteria” on EU membership, he said. “As a result, we cannot tolerate any army involvement in political life”, Schulz stressed, saying he intended to go to Turkey before the legislative elections in order to discuss matters with the country's main political leaders. (hb)