Europe crisis a threat to peace, says Babacan

Turkey backs a strong Europe because the continent, which is facing both economic and political woes, stands at a crucial spot in terms of world peace, Deputy Premier Ali Babacan said yesterday. "The world is experiencing a complicated period that it has not faced during the last 100 years; debates have even started over the long appreciated values of Europe," he said, addressing a group of businesspeople, investors and journalists at a meeting. Turkey's possible membershipin the European Union is a win-winsituation, Babacan said. "ShouldTurkey join, the union will becomestronger. (…) This is goodboth for the region and the world. (…) If Europe withdraws into itself,it will become weaker, and its impactacross the world will weaken.This will be no good for the world. (…) Theworld can only overcome this problematicperiod by uniting and implementingcoordinated policies," he said.