'Turkey's global importance boosted in 2012'

Turkey's European Union Minister reiterated Turkey's resolve to become a full member to the 27-nation bloc, Anadolu agency reported.

"No should doubt Turkey prepares itself so that it will be a full member to the future's EU. Turkey has never taken a step that would hurt the Turkish people just because the EU wanted it," Bagis told a parliamentary committee discussing the his ministry's budget for 2013.

Bagis said there had been major developments in the EU and in Turkey's region, adding that Turkey's global importance and its powers were boosted in 2012.

"All these developments have shown that Turkey-EU relations are not only important for the two sides but they were also important in strategic terms for the international community as well," he said.


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