Turkish premier states case for EU entry

The Prime Minister of Turkey was today giving a lecture outlining what the country could bring to the European Union.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan was giving the annual European Studies lecture at Oxford University, two weeks after Tony Blair, a strong supporter of Turkey’s bid to join the EU, visited Ankara.

Britain believes that Turkish membership could help bridge the gap between Europe and Muslim countries and help the fight against terrorism. But other countries, including France, are opposed to the plan.

The EU is set to announce in December whether Turkey can open negotiations to join following enlargement at the start of this month which saw 10 new countries, including Cyprus, Poland and Hungary, join.

Mr Blair has said that the EU would start talks if conditions on human rights and democracy were met.

In the last two years Turkey has abolished the death penalty and given more rights to the oppressed Kurds.

Mr Erdogan is reported to have said that a rejection of Turkey’s application would disappoint his people and undermine the basic philosophy of the Union.