TURKEY: British Foreign Secretary David Miliband reaffirms his country's support for Turkey's bid for EU membership

Record ID: 561290

  • Title: TURKEY: British Foreign Secretary David Miliband reaffirms his country's support for Turkey's bid for EU membership
  • Date: 6th September 2007
  • Summary: (BN15) ISTANBUL, TURKEY (SEPTEMBER 5, 2007) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN CONFERENCE HALL (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY, DAVID MILIBAND, SAYING: "But more sharply it makes no sense for the EU, the European Union to be defined as a closed Christian club. Its membership must demonstrate that diversity of religious beliefs is compatible with common values, and with common institutions. And that's why I have no hesitation in saying that the project of an outward looking European Union needs as a clear goal the position of Turkey as a full and equal member of the EU." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY, DAVID MILIBAND, SAYING: "The EU needs to keep its promises and encourage the process of negotiations to run its course. It's the right thing to do, and it's what all European member states committed themselves to do last year." VARIOUS OF AUDIENCE
  • Embargoed: 21st September 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: European Union
  • Reuters ID: LVA7T4VNL8CITQW3K5OL7QWE7MAV
  • Story Text: Britain's new Foreign Secretary David Miliband reaffirmed London's support for Turkey's bid to join the European Union on Wednesday (September 5) and also urged the Muslim country to play a bigger role in the Middle East.
    Miliband made the comments at a speech to students at Bahcesehir University in Istanbul. He also met Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan during his visit.
    Miliband is the first foreign minister to visit Ankara since the formation of a new Turkish government after Erdogan's centre-right AK Party won re-election in July 22 polls.
    Turkey began EU membership talks in October 2005 but its reform drive has flagged amid disputes with the 27-nation bloc over Cyprus and human rights.
    "It makes no sense for the EU, the European Union to be defined as a closed Christian club. Its membership must demonstrate that diversity of religious beliefs is compatible with common values, and with common institutions. And that's why I have no hesitation in saying that the project of an outward looking European Union needs as a clear goal the position of Turkey as a full and equal member of the EU," Miliband said.
    The EU hopes Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's re-elected AK Party government will relaunch the reforms now it has secured another large parliamentary majority.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register