FM Davutoglu: "Turkey's EU membership will put an end to the culture cold war"

Turkey's main strategic goal and basic policy is full European Union membership, said Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu yesterday, rebuffing claims that the nation is turning towards to the East. Speaking at the Sixth Turkish-Italian Forum, which was also attended by his Italian counterpart Franco Frattini and Italian Senate Vice President Emma Bonino, Davutoglu said, "The Cold War is over. Turkey's participation in Europe will put an end to the culture cold war." For his part, Frattini described EU's enlargement as a success, saying, "The union, which gained strength with the collapse of the Berlin Wall (20 years ago), will grow stronger when Turkey joins the EU."