TURKEY WON'T LOSE APPETITE FOR FULL EU MEMBERSHIP - MINISTER
PanARMENIAN.Net
October 17, 2011 - 10:30 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Although the European Union's approach toward
membership candidate Turkey is not encouraging at all, Turkey will not
lose its appetite and determination for full membership in the union,
EU Minister Egemen BagıÅ~_ has stated.
"The EU's attitude towards us is like a teacher who does not want his
student to pass the class. The same attitude can be seen within the
latest progress report, too," BagıÅ~_ said in an interview with the
Aksiyon magazine, referring to the progress report on Turkey which was
released by the European Commission last week, Today's Zaman reported.
"However, we are no longer considering the EU as a teacher. Turkey is
no longer a student that accepts a 'well done' from the EU whenever
it performs successfully. Whether they appreciate the reforms carried
out in Turkey or not, we will continue making progress on the way in
which we assume is the right way for us," BagıÅ~_ said.
The EU minister replied in the affirmative when asked whether it was
possible to say "Turkey is becoming Europeanized despite the EU."
According to BagıÅ~_, the EU, which "has become weaker both
politically and economically, needs new members, and Turkey, with
its young population, can heal the problems stemming from Europe's
steadily ageing population."
From: A. Papazian
PanARMENIAN.Net
October 17, 2011 - 10:30 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Although the European Union's approach toward
membership candidate Turkey is not encouraging at all, Turkey will not
lose its appetite and determination for full membership in the union,
EU Minister Egemen BagıÅ~_ has stated.
"The EU's attitude towards us is like a teacher who does not want his
student to pass the class. The same attitude can be seen within the
latest progress report, too," BagıÅ~_ said in an interview with the
Aksiyon magazine, referring to the progress report on Turkey which was
released by the European Commission last week, Today's Zaman reported.
"However, we are no longer considering the EU as a teacher. Turkey is
no longer a student that accepts a 'well done' from the EU whenever
it performs successfully. Whether they appreciate the reforms carried
out in Turkey or not, we will continue making progress on the way in
which we assume is the right way for us," BagıÅ~_ said.
The EU minister replied in the affirmative when asked whether it was
possible to say "Turkey is becoming Europeanized despite the EU."
According to BagıÅ~_, the EU, which "has become weaker both
politically and economically, needs new members, and Turkey, with
its young population, can heal the problems stemming from Europe's
steadily ageing population."
From: A. Papazian