"We’ve made a package of reforms in our legislation in cooperation with the Copenhagen resolutions and we are on our way to implementing those reforms," he told editors from dozens of countries who are meeting at the World Editors Forum in Istanbul. "If you ask me, we should be able to join."

Asked about the possibility that the EU would refuse to consider Turkey for membership, he said there was no reason to consider the possibility. He said reform legislation is in place and that implementation would follow. "There are even countries that are full members struggling with these (reform) problems," he said. "Turkey is already more advanced."

Mr Erdogan earlier opened the 57th World Newspaper Congress and 11th World Editors Forum, the global meetings of the world’s press organised by the World Association of Newspapers. More than 1,300 publishers, chief editors, managing directors and other senior newspaper executives are in Istanbul through Wednesday for the events.

The Prime Minister made his comments in a meeting with members of the World Editors Forum, the organisation within WAN that represents senior newsroom executives worldwide. Its flagship event is the annual conference now underway.

The WEF also runs a weblog for editors at www.editorsweblog.org. The weblog is updated daily and will soon become a cooperative weblog among editors world-wide.

For more news from the Congress and Forum click here.

Inquiries to: Larry Kilman, Director of Communications, WAN, 7 rue Geoffroy St Hilaire, 75005 Paris France. Tel: +33 1 47 42 85 00. Fax: +33 1 47 42 49 48. Mobile: +33 6 10 28 97 36. E-mail: lkilman@wan.asso.fr.