Erdogan urges fair treatment of Turkey's EU accession bid

Under the theme "A Common Vision for Peace, Stability and Prosperity," the second Turkey-Spain Interparliamentary Summit began in Madrid yesterday with 10 Cabinet ministers from Turkey, led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and six from Spain, led by Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. Speaking at the meeting, Erdogan blasted French and German resistance to Turkey's entry into the European Union. "What France and Germany are doing with us isn't right. They are changing the rules in the middle of the game," he said. "They are imposing conditions that aren't part of European norms so that we can't get into the EU," he said, adding that Turkey is already part of the EU in an "unofficial capacity" as there are 5 million Turkish citizens in Europe. The EU began membership talks with Turkey in 2005 but the process has been slow due in part to opposition from some countries, particularly France and Germany. Erdogan also said the Alliance of Civilizations, co-sponsored by Turkey and Spain, works to show that different cultures and civilizations can work in friendship and harmony for peace and tolerance. He also warned that the global gap between rich and poor countries is growing and putting global stability at risk in the process. "This is obviously a grave danger in an era of rapid globalization and information technology," he said. Also speaking at the meeting, a senior Spanish official yesterday reiterated his country's support for Turkey's EU membership bid. Spain is the current EU term president. Spanish Senate President Javier Rojo said Turkey will grow closer to the EU as it fulfills modernization processes and reforms. He said relations between Turkey and Spain are very good and that Turkey is an important mediator in the Middle East as well as a bridge to develop dialogue among cultures. Stressing that the Alliance of Civilizations project is an "investment in peace," Rojo said it would be an important element in future international politics.