Schroeder: "The EU will benefit greatly from Turkey's accession"

Speaking in Istanbul yesterday at a privately organized conference on Leadership for Sustainable Success, Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said he "regretted" that the European Union has failed to appreciate Turkey's role in solving regional conflicts. He called for the continuation of reforms in Turkey and for patience on its EU membership bid. " Europe can survive the challenges of globalization only if it pursues a common internal market policy and external enlargement process," he said." Europe should be the third pole in the world. We will only succeed if the EU continues its internal integration policy and its external enlargement, by building bridges to Arab countries through Turkey 's accession process." Schroeder also said Turkey 's ongoing EU negotiations should serve the end of full membership only. "The principle of pacta sunt servanda, meaning that promises should be kept, is important," he said. "No one can ignore this principle." He added, " Turkey 's accession will bring considerable benefits to Europe . Over the decades, Turkey has been a reliable partner for Germany and Europe in general." He also said, "The vital importance of Turkey 's accession is that Turkey serves as a model for other Muslim countries in our European neighborhood," and that a democratic Turkey is proof that there is "no contradiction between the Islamic faith and an enlightened society."