Turkey warns EU not to push it away

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan today warned the European Union not to push his country away from membership negotiations, as the EU considered a partial suspension of talks over Turkey’s refusal to open up to trade with Cyprus.

“European Union membership is part of a global vision. It is the most important project of the 21st century,” Erdogan said. “It is an issue that cannot be sacrificed to small calculations and mundane issues.”