Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said Tuesday that Sweden supports Turkey's bid to join the European Union (EU).

Reinfeldt made the remarks at a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan following their talks in the Turkish capital.

"Turkey belongs to Europe. Turkey is a crucial country for Europe. With its regional role and young population, Turkey carries strategic importance for the EU," Reinfeldt said.

"Topics such as press freedom, freedom of expression, religious minorities, cultural rights, and the socioeconomic situation in southeastern Anatolia may be brought up in the EU process. The establishment of a TV channel in Kurdish in Turkey was an important step," Reinfeldt said.

Sweden will take over the rotating EU presidency on July 1. Reinfeldt said, "During our presidency, we will give attention to such topics as climate change, economy and ways to keep the EU united."

Turkey launched its membership talks with the European bloc in October 2005. But the talks have stalled over opposition from some EU member states to allowing a Muslim-predominant country into the bloc, and over its long-running row with Cyprus.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey militarily intervened and occupied the north of Cyprus following a coup by a group of Greek officers.