ISTANBUL (AFP) - Turkish President Abdullah Gul on Monday asked France not to block Turkey's bid for European Union membership as his French counterpart Francois Hollande arrived in the country for a state visit.

"We welcome the positive stance Hollande has adopted for the past few years. But the negotiation process does not mean full membership. The negotiation process is an adaptation process. We hope that a political blockage will not take place," Mr Gul said during a joint conference with Mr Hollande.