"Turkey revives talks on its accession to EU
Mar 1, 2011 17:49 Moscow Time
Interview with Dr Seifi Tashan, President of the Foreign Policy Institute in Ankara, Turkey.
Do I get it right that Mr Erdogan is kind of reviving the talks on Turkey’s accession to the European Union? Is that correct?
They think that what Turkey has done during the last years, particularly ever since Turkey became a candidate, and the progress that it has achieved both in economy and in the human rights and as the society as a whole, does not deserve the role which the European Union wishes to give to Turkey. That is to exclude Turkey from entering the European Union and keep it close to Europe. So there is a problem for Turkey, because Turks feel themselves as part of Europe, if you consider that currently Turkey had both organizations of the Council of Europe, such as the Parliamentary Assembly and the Committee of Ministers, so there is no problem. Also the Turkish economy has so far so progressed, that the Europeans fear that there will be exodus from Turkey into Europe if they lift visas or have Turkey in the European Union. So they use very tough visa conditions for Turks. But the Europeans come in freely."
More:Turkey revives talks on its accession to EU: Voice of Russia
