European Parliament's Foreign Relations Committee member and the accompanying delegation held a news conference in Ankara after the reception hosted in their honor.

MEP Hannes Swoboda said Tuesday that they observe a halt in the reform process in Turkey. Speaking at the news conference Swoboda said they have a very clear message for Turkey: "Please, continue the reform process".

If Turkey truly wants to become an EU member, it should carry on the reforms with determination, said Swoboda.

He praised Turkey's foreign policy and the steps taken for normalization of relations with Armenia.

Also speaking at the press conference, EP's Turkey rapporteur Ria Oomen Ruijten said she will submit the first draft of the Turkey report to the EP next week and it will be open to debate next Tuesday.

She said the report is well balanced and unbiased adding that it could be more critical in certain areas compared to past, while more positive in the area of foreign relations. Rujiten also said there is a halt in the reform process and noted that political reforms are more important than opening of the chapters.

She added that with political reforms she meant reforms about individual, cultural and constitutional rights and also the judicial reform, the Anatolian news agency reports