ANKARA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Italian President Giorgio Napolitano said Wednesday to forge better relations between the European Union (EU) and Turkey serves mutual interest, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

    "Turkey's role in this vast and critical geography is one of the basic elements of the mutual interest in the improvement of cooperation between Turkey and the EU with an eye for integration," Napolitano said in a speech at Ankara University during a visit to the capital city Ankara.

    "Turkey's relation with the Islamic world is another basic element which is deeply involved today in many European countries," he was quoted as saying.

    The president criticized the advocation for a status short of full membership for Turkey in the EU as "ill-suited," noting that the issue of Turkish-European relations should be considered in the context of strengthening European integration and the EU's say in global matters.

    Turkey started accession talks with the EU in 2005 but has only opened negotiations in 11 policy areas out of 35 that are needed before its entry.

    The EU has urged Ankara to normalize relations with Cyprus and speed up reforms to improve human rights and democracy, while EU members France and Germany have called for a more informal partnership with Turkey instead of full membership.

    As a predominantly Muslim country, Turkey has said it will not accept any alternatives other than full membership to the EU.

    Napolitano arrived in Turkey on Monday for a four-day formal visit to the country.