Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn has said "terrible" things are happening in Turkey in terms of human rights.

In an interview with German newspaper Deutsche Welle, however, Asselborn said he did not want to end talks over Turkey's accession to the European Union (EU).

"What is important is that we keep unity in the EU and can influence that the rule of law – that an embryo of rule of law is maintained in Turkey," he said.

"What is happening in Turkey at the moment in terms of human rights and rule of law is horrible.

"We in the EU need to know what means we can use to change it or at least influence it to go in a different direction."

Parts of the interview can be found here in English.

(Barbara Tasch, barbara.tasch@wort.lu, +352 49 93 732)