The Turkish foreign minister, Ismail Cem, has said Turkey will embark on a course of speedy reforms in order to fulfill conditions for membership of the European Union as soon as possible.

Mr. Cem was speaking after a meeting with the Portuguese minister for Europe, Francisco Seixas de Costa in Ankara. Portugal currently holds the EU presidency. The talks marked the start of a lengthy process of harmonising Turkey's laws with those of the EU.

Mr. Seixas de Costa also had a meeting with Turkish human rights campaigners. Turkey was declared a candidate for membership at the EU summit in Helsinki last month.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service