Sabanci Holding Chairwoman: "Turkey will help Europe see the world from a broader perspective"

If European leaders could peer a half-century in to the future, they would be eager to accept Turkey into the European Union, said Sabanci Holding Chairwoman Guler Sabanci yesterday. Speaking at a conference at Oxford University, Sabanci said that Turkey's headscarf problem is both simple and complex, but added, "It is a promising development that we're discussing ending the university headscarf ban in a democratic way. I believe we will solve this issue through democratic means." Asked about prejudice in Europe against Turkey's EU membership bid, Sabanci said European countries see themselves as the center of the world. "There's a world outside Europe," she continued. "Some European politicians, like (French President Nicolas) Sarkozy, should realize this. Europe has serious problems it should solve. Europe's most important problem isn't accepting Turkey into its union. If European leaders were able to foresee the balance of power that will affect the world in 50 or 60 years, they would be eager to accept Turkey into the EU. Turkey will help Europe perceive ongoing developments in the world from a broader perspective."