PM to Fule: " You can turn crisis into opportunity"

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday received European Union's Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule at his office in Ankara. "There is a deep crisis in Europe. You can turn it into an opportunity. However, you should not become introverted," Erdogan said during his one-hour meeting with Fule, giving some advice on crisis in the euro zone. Fule who was welcomed warmly by Erdogan thanked him for his hospitality.  As economic crisis experienced around Europe was the top agenda of the talks, Erdogan said Turkey was able to prevent itself from its negative effects. Pointing out that Turkey is an island of stability, Erdogan stated he hoped that EU countries would overcome the crisis quickly. Saying that "crisis might sometimes be opportunity," Erdogan added, "I hope that you will be able to turn the crisis into an opportunity. However, to turn the economic crisis into a chance, EU should keep the enlargement policy rather than become introverted." France's presidential elections and some regional issues, including Syria, were also discussed during the talks.  As Turkey's EU bid was on the table, Fule underlined the importance of Turkey's EU candidacy process.  He informed Erdogan on "Positive Agenda" which he and EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis announced in order to gain momentum in this process. Fule also thanked Erdogan for his reforms within the framework of Turkey's EU membership, stating that continuation of support for reforms was significant, too.