Turkey’s FM sure of eventual EU membership despite critics

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Austria, Cyprus, Cyprus/TRNC, EU Members, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, UK

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Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt (L) arrives with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu

STOCKHOLM — Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Saturday hit out at opponents of his country’s EU aspirations, such as France and Germany, and said Turkey’s future within the European Union was assured.

“We have full confidence that our French, British and other colleagues will keep their commitment… There is no need for convincing, it is already sure that Turkey and the European Union will integrate in the future,” Davutoglu told reporters after talks with his EU counterparts in Stockholm.

Turkey, which has been knocking on Europe’s door for decades, began formal EU accession talks in 2005.

Today they are stalled by French, German and Austrian opposition as well as Ankara’s refusal to trade openly with EU member Cyprus.

EU nation Cyprus is also opposed to membership for Turkey, which is the only nation to recognise the Turkish-Cypriot statelet in the north of the island of Cyprus.

“The negative voices that we keep hearing from some countries in the EU just spread doubt among our citizens and impede our efforts to continue reforms,” Davutoglu wrote in an op-ed piece published in Sweden’s paper of reference Dagens Nyheter on Saturday.

Davutoglu said Turkey had carried out reforms that were “unthinkable just a few years ago,” citing greater freedom of religion and expression, the abolishment of the death penalty and radio broadcasts in Kurdish.

He said critics of Ankara’s EU bid were harming the country’s “silent revolution.”

“Like us, Sweden realises that Europe can never be a strong and united entity as long as Turkey remains outside the EU,” he said.

“The support from countries like Sweden, with their objective and encouraging attitude, is very important in the process,” the Turkish minister added.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner reiterated his country’s opposition to Turkish membership.

Asked about Swedish support for Ankara he replied “others (in the EU) are opposed”.

“They (the Turks) are not first on the list. We have all the Western Balkans to let in (to the EU) and that is necessary,” he added.

There was also a call on Turkey to open its ports to Cypriot ships, a main hurdle to its EU aspirations.

France and Germany have suggested a “privileged partnership” for Turkey rather than full EU membership.

Source: www.google.com, 6 September 2009

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One response to “Turkey’s FM sure of eventual EU membership despite critics”

September 7, 2009

haluk

“That project of an outward looking EU needs as a clear goal the position of Turkey as a full and equal member. Turkey and the rest of Europe are bound together by a shared belief in democracy and by shared interests. Membership of the European Union will help to further those shared interests and values and reconcile differences. I do not only say this out of faith. Just look at the history books.”
–David Milliband, Foreign Secretary of the UK, “Shared Values and Shared Future: The Importance Of Turkey To Our Common Future”, Speech at Bahcesehir University, Istanbul, Turkey, 5th September 2007

“We have a great debate in the European Union, not about the reform treaty that is getting all the coverage in the newspapers. The great debate in the European Union is actually whether a country like Turkey, 95, 98 per cent Muslim can find its home in the European Union. I passionately believe that the European Union has to be an organisation that can include people, irrespective of their race, religion and creed, and bridging the regional divides seems to me to be a foundational purpose of an organisation like the European Union. The debate in Britain about Turkish membership is different to the debate in other countries. Some countries are still debating whether a country with 95, 98 percent Muslims can join the European Union. I think we have come to terms with that. The reason I think is that many of the people brought together in this room are in their daily lives are sending out a message that what unites us is far greater than what divides us. And I think that is a really important thing for the UK at the moment.”
–David Milliband, Foreign Secretary of the UK, “SPEECH AT THE EID [Bayram] RECEPTION”, Durbar Court, Foreign Office, London, 16th October 2007

Turkey’s FM sure of eventual EU membership despite critics

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