İn Brussels, Erdogan to reiterate Turkey's EU determination

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan went to Brussels over the weekend at the invitation of European Union Commission head Jose Manuel Barosso, accompanied by Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and newly appointed chief EU talks negotiator Egemen Bagis. Erdogan is scheduled to hold separate meetings there with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn and European Parliament Chairman Hans-Gert Poettering. On the sidelines of his visit, Erdogan will attend a conference held by the Friends of Europe think-thank and visit the Istanbul Center, a communications and cultural platform for the city's communications with EU organizations, corporations, and the European public. Erdogan reportedly will again reject claims that Turkey's EU accession process has slowed down, and stress Turkey's determination in its EU bid. Erdogan will also speak about what Turkey is doing in line with its national program for EU membership reforms. Speaking at a meeting in Hasselt yesterday, Erdogan lambasted Israel's attacks in Gaza. Reiterating that Israel has ignored UN resolutions, he added, "There are no sanctions against Israel, and that is a double standards." Touching on the ongoing Ergenekon probe, Erdogan stated that his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) never has tired of fighting dark forces, and that they will always act within the rule of law. Reiterating the party's opposition to ethnic and regional nationalism, he added, "We will continue to embrace everyone, whatever their religion or ethnicity."