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After the re-election of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the leader of the group of the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) to the European Parliament (the largest in the EP) spoke openly about suspending Turkey's EU accession process.

"The last few years have shown that a close partnership is important, but nobody wants Turkey to become a full member of the EU - neither Turkey nor the EU," Manfred Webersaid Manfred Weber, a German politician.Manfred Weber was born on July 14, 1972 in the Bavarian village in an interview published in the German media group Funke.

"We need to stop this process because it hinders better relations more than it supports them," the EPP president said, adding that expectations after Erdogan's victory were clear.

"Especially for the achievement of peace between Ukraine and Russia, as well as for migration policy, economic modernization and the Cyprus issue, we need cooperation. Now Erdogan must immediately agree to Sweden's NATO membership," he added.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 following a Greek coup and Turkish military intervention. The numerous UN mediations to overcome the divide have not been successful. Cyprus has been a member of the EU since 2004, but EU laws and regulations apply only in the southern part of the country, which has a Greek majority.

Turkey vetoed Sweden's NATO bid, citing Stockholm's lack of commitment to fighting "terrorist organisations", with Ankara mostly referring to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Manfred Weber