Davutoglu: "Turkish foreign policy is in full harmony with EU values"

The 48th Turkey-EU Association Council meeting took place in Brussels yesterday with the attendance of Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Chief Negotiator for European Union talks Egemen Bagis, EU Term President Spain's Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, and EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule. Speaking at a joint press conference following the meeting, Davutoglu said Turkey's foreign policy and diplomacy are in full harmony with EU values. Expressing his hope that the 50th Turkey-EU Association Council meeting would take place with Turkey as a full member of the Union, Davutoglu said, "I'm pleased to say that Turkey's foreign policy and diplomacy are in full harmony with EU values. With its foreign policy, Turkey has contributed to global and regional peace. Turkey's foreign policy is in harmony with that of the EU, and our counterparts in the EU have affirmed this." Saying that the EU has recognized Turkey's impressive economic performance in the midst of global financial crisis, Davutoglu said, "We have told our friends in the EU that Turkey's economic achievements will continue. Turkey, in the months and years ahead, will continue to be a real asset both politically and economically for the EU." For his part, Bagis underlined Turkey's continued determination to become part of the EU despite a host of difficulties and obstacles. Telling how May 9 Europe Day was celebrated on Sunday with great joy in Ankara, Bagis said, "As a country that recently opened its (EU talks) chapter on the environment, we began the day by riding our bikes. Turkey's EU process is like riding a bike. As you pump the pedals, you move forward. We will continue to work with determination." He also said that Turkey wants to open for negotiations as many chapters as possible during Spain's current EU Term Presidency. Also speaking to reporters, Moratinos expressed the EU's full support for the constitutional amendment package that Parliament recently passed. He also expressed his country's determination to promote Turkey's accession negotiations during its term presidency. Spain wants to see Turkey as a full member after being a candidate for 50 years, and so will work towards this goal and try to open chapters for negotiations during its term presidency, Moratinos said. Stating that the foreign policy interests of Turkey and the EU overlap, he praised Turkey's foreign policy moves in recent years. "Turkey has recently emerged as a great player in the international arena," he said. "With its results-oriented foreign policy, Turkey has worked to find a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear program and other difficult situations related to the Caucasus and Middle East." For his part, Fule said that this year the EU is working to open Turkey's negotiations on competition policy, public procurement, social policy, employment, and food security, as well as energy, education and culture. In related news, an EU common stance document released after the meeting called for broad compromise to realize Turkey's recent constitutional reform package. While praising Turkey's reform efforts, it also called on the Turkish government to do more in various areas.