Nobel committee defines Turkey as very important for world peace

The Nobel Committee gave a historically important message to the EU, which was officially awarded the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize on Monday, in a statement at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony which was held in Oslo and attended by EU leaders, except British Prime Minister David Cameron. Nobel Committee Chairman Thorbjorn Jagland made it clear to the EU leaders that Turkey was very important for both the Middle East and the world as a whole. Jagland, who is also the secretary-general of the Council of Europe, said that relations between Turkey and the EU have been continuing for a few decades. Stressing that the aim of EU membership had provided Turkey a guideline for reform, Jagland said that the reforms have strengthened Turkey's democracy. "After the new government, headed by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) won a clear parliamentary majority, the aim of EU membership provided a guideline for the process of reform in Turkey. There can be no doubt that this has contributed to strengthening the development of democracy there. This benefits Europe, but success in this respect is also important to developments in the Middle East, and therefore also for world peace," Jagland noted.