UK's premier warns not to shut Turkey out

British Prime Minister David Cameron is in Ankara on a two-day official visit. Cameron's first stop on Monday was the premier's residence. Following his meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Cameron attended a dinner given in his honor.
Turkey-Britain relations were laid on the table at the meeting between the two leaders. Britain is known for its strong support for Turkey's EU bid. Regional and international matters that interest both countries will also be discussed during Cameron's time in Ankara, TRT reports.
Cameron today challenged France and Germany over their opposition to Turkish membership of the EU when he issued a stark warning of the dangers of shutting Ankara "out of the club", the "Guardian" reports.
In a passionate defence of Turkey, whose EU ambitions have long been championed by Britain, the prime minister accused Paris and Berlin of double standards for expecting Ankara to guard Europe's borders as a Nato member while closing the door to EU membership.
"When I think about what Turkey has done to defend Europe as a Nato ally, and what Turkey is doing today in Afghanistan alongside our European allies, it makes me angry that your progress towards EU membership can be frustrated in the way it has been," the prime minister said in a speech in the Turkish capital.