Madrid, Nov 16 (DPA) Spain will do its best to encourage Turkey's entry into the European Union during its EU-presidency in the first half of 2010, government sources said Monday.

King Juan Carlos discussed Turkey's relations with the EU with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who was visiting Madrid Monday.

On Sunday, Davutoglu met his Spanish counterpart Miguel Angel Moratinos, who told him Spain would encourage negotiations on Turkey's eventual EU membership.

Spain gave its full support to Turkey's aspiration to join the EU, Moratinos told Davutoglu in the southern city of Cordoba.

Spain and Turkey are co-sponsors of the United Nations' Alliance of Civilisations project to encourage dialogue between the West and the Muslim world.