Former Belgian FM Michel speaks in support of Turkish EU membership
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Ekim 02, 2006 13:18
Support for Turkey in the face of pressure from within the EU to accept Armenian claims of genocide has come from EU Commission member and former Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel. Speaking on the subject, Michel said yesterday "New political criteria cannot be put in front of Turkey for it to gain EU membership. Turkey has great importance for the EU. It is enough just to look and see where energy lines cross eachother to understand this."
Speaking in Brussels, Michel touched further on Turkey's role in the region, and how it was tied to what he called "the EU's great need for Turkey":
"Just look at the problems in the region. Take a glance at the problems in Iraq, the greater Middle East, Iran. You will notice that Turkey is a key country in this all.....There are parliamentarians from the European Parliament who seem to behave as though Turkey will become a member tomorrow. Turkey's membership will take time, and we must give the country time to prepare."
"Just look at the problems in the region. Take a glance at the problems in Iraq, the greater Middle East, Iran. You will notice that Turkey is a key country in this all.....There are parliamentarians from the European Parliament who seem to behave as though Turkey will become a member tomorrow. Turkey's membership will take time, and we must give the country time to prepare."