‘TURKEY IS PART OF EUROPE,’ SAYS TURKEY’S FOREIGN MINISTER DAVUTOGLU

Tert
Nov 17 2009
Armenia

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Monday lambasted remarks
of European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek, who said Turkey’s
cultural heritage is putting the country’s EU process in a difficult
position, in an interview published in Spanish newspaper El Pais,
reports Turkish news source Today’s Zaman.

Buzek was quoted as saying that Turkey needs decades to complete the
membership process, noting that the country has a different place in
the enlargement plans of the EU.

Davutoglu expressed his displeasure at the remarks. "It is not
the correct approach," Davutoglu said, adding there are hundreds
of reasons why Turkey is part of European culture. "If the Ottoman
[Empire] archive was not opened, European history could not have been
written. Turkey is a part of Europe, whether you like it or not. Let’s
say Turkey withdrew its candidacy for EU membership, will the EU’s
problems then come to an end? We are not in the 19th century."

Pointing out that European intellectuals should be thinking more in
global terms, he added, "Otherwise, European culture will stay in a
defensive position against globalization."

He also said he would like to see a Europe facing challenges with
no barriers or borders; Davuoglu also rejected a Euro-centric and
defensive bloc. Davutoglu also hypothetically argued that even if
Turkey gives up on EU membership, that won’t solve the cultural
problems Europe is facing.

"There are millions of Turks already living in EU countries,"
he emphasized.