Türkiye
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Erdogan: Turkey is a host country in Europe
Turkey is a European country and ready to join the European Union, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday, Hurriyet newspaper reported.
“Turkey can be considered a western country, but not wholly. Turkey can be considered an eastern country, but still, not wholly. It can also be considered a Black Sea or Mediterranean country, but still it does not represent us in entirety,” said Erdogan. “Europe, acting against its own values, can try to push us aside as many times as it can, but no matter what they say, Turkey is a European country.”
He noted that Turkey has been part of Europe with its culture for 650 years and so will it be.
“European countries are not capable of alienating us from Europe, where we are a host country, not a guest,” Erdogan said, adding. “In case the European Union gives up on its double standards, we’ll be ready to join this organization. But the time of taking unilateral steps is over now. In case Europe fulfills its promises, we too will show our intention. Whatever they give us, we’ll give something in return. But we have run out of patience and power to run after Europe.”
The Turkish president said bilateral ties with the West and the East cannot be alternative to each other, noting that these ties instead complete each other.
Referring to the ongoing Euphrates Shield Operation that was launched on Aug. 24, Erdogan stressed that Turkey’s military operation in Syria is not against any country or person but terror groups in general.
“The aim of the Euphrates Shield Operation is no country or person but only terror organizations. No one should doubt this issue that we have uttered over and over, and no one should comment on it in another fashion or try to [misrepresent its meaning],” he added.
http://en.apa.az/world-news/europe/e...o-join-eu.html
It seems with these statements he defies some Apricitians.
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Originally Posted by Frank Gallagher
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