‘Excluding Turkey would be the Failure of EU Arguments’

Zaman, Turkey
May 23 2004

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul declared that using lame excuses
to exclude Turkey from the EU would mark the failure of EU arguments
and warned that a soulless bureaucratic structure would remain instead.

Gul, delivering the opening speech of the ‘New Horizons in Turkish
Foreign Policy’ meeting held at the Dedeman Hotel, said that if the EU
could overcome the Dark Ages’ arguments then it would give Turkey a
date for talks at the December summit. Gul emphasized that it would
be grave injustice towards Turkey if the EU said it did not meet
Copenhagen Criteria. He said that the “Lists of to-do have turned
into the tally of already-done.”

Gul also pointed out that the narrow-minded powers that object
Turkey’s membership are condemned not only in Europe but also in
other regions. He added, “Whenever an unfair opinion is spoken against
Turkey, its response is given within Europe.”

‘We Pursue Soft Power Strategy’

Gul talked about the shift in the mentality of Turkey’s foreign
policy, stressing that Turkey now pursued the ‘soft power’ strategy.
He explained that this method was both more effective and respected.
Gul added that the ideals of big country could only be achieved by
self-confidence.

Gul said that the government’s foreign policy has the content and
dynamism that spreads a culture of compromise. Gul stressed that
Turkey has a few active and inactive problems around itself, but
added that an atmosphere of cooperation and dialogue should take the
lead in helping Turkey to progress beyond the mentality that it is
“surrounded by enemies”. Gul pointed out that relations with Greece
are developing into a ‘strategic partnership’, and that Turkey wants
to be a ‘catalyst’ in Azeri-Armenian conflict.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress