Turkey essential for EU, says former president

Turkey is essential for the European Union, the country’s former president Abdullah Gul said.

He said the EU makes a big mistake by refusing to accept Turkey’s membership, Kanal7 TV channel reported July 8.

“Turkey is a powerful Muslim country and its membership in EU can only benefit this structure,” said Gul.

The official negotiations on Turkey’s accession to the EU were resumed in 2005.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc earlier said that if previously 75 percent of Turkey’s population supported the country’s accession to the EU, currently, this figure has dropped to 20 percent.

Turkey has fulfilled 65 percent of its commitments to the EU for accession to this organization.

Earlier, the country’s Minister for EU Affairs Volkan Bozkir said the negotiations between Turkey and EU can’t continue in the format required by the organization. He said at the time that democracy in Turkey is at a higher level than in some European countries.

/By Trend/