Gul issues message on the occasion of Europe Day

President Abdullah Gul has issued a message on the occasion of May 9 Europe Day. Stating that Turkey is an inseparable part of Europe in terms of political, economic, geographic, humanitarian, historical and cultural aspects, Gul said, "Allowing Turkey to successfully complete membership negotiations without permitting any artificial delays is, first and foremost, a prerequisite of pacta sunt servanda. The eventual membership shall, of course, be shaped around the decision of the peoples of the European Union and Turkey," Gul said, adding, "At a time when democracy is expanding in the Middle East and North Africa and the center of gravity in the global economy is shifting toward Asia, it would be a strategic myopia for Europe to distance itself from Turkey as this would have serious strategic ramifications in the long term."