German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle gave a cautious warning Tuesday that Turkey was not ready to join the European Union, hours before meeting his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu in Istanbul.

"If the question had to be decided today, Turkey would not be able to join and the European Union would not be able to incorporate (Turkey)," Westerwelle told German daily Bild.

Nevertheless, he warned against generating the impression that the EU was not interested in its eastern neighbour, DPA reported.

"It is in our interest for Turkey to orientate itself towards Europe," Westerwelle said, adding that this was not only out of economic interests.

"The county can help us solve several conflicts - whether it be Afghanistan, Iran, Yemen or the Middle East," the minister stressed.