"It's in the United States interests that Turkey join the European Union," Bush told reporters.

The Bush administration has lobbied Brussels to allow Turkey, a close NATO ally, to enter the 25-nation European Union.

The European Union has opened talks with Turkey on membership, but many countries have been reluctant, citing Turkey's human rights record, economic status and concerns of a mass influx of immigrants.

Bush credited Erdogan for pushing economic reforms "that have enabled the Turkish economy to be strong for the good of the Turkish people."

Erdogan said he discussed with Bush his effort to move his country toward the EU economic criteria for membership.

The two leaders said they also discussed the Middle East, Iran, Iraq and the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.

Turkey has pressured the United States to ensure that Kurdish separatists responsible for terrorist attacks in Turkey cannot operate on Iraqi soil. DPA

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