Turkish State Minister and chief EU negotiator Ali Babacan said Tuesday that Türkiye's integration into the European Union carries major significance for both regional and world peace. Speaking at a World Bank Institute conference in Ankara on administrative reforms tied to EU accession, Babacan argued that a fully integrated Türkiye would strengthen the bloc's stability and security.
Babacan described the EU as the most consequential peace project launched since World War II, one built on shared universal values and the peaceful coexistence of diverse cultures and religions. He stressed that accommodating religious and cultural differences within the EU, while challenging, remains achievable.
On Türkiye's accession progress, Babacan said Ankara has met the Copenhagen criteria and entered substantive negotiations. He outlined three priorities: fully applying the Copenhagen political criteria, deepening political reforms, and aligning Türkiye's laws and institutions with EU standards.
Babacan noted that screening across all 35 chapters was expected to wrap up in 2006 and called for greater involvement by civil society organizations. He said the technical portions of the talks could be concluded relatively quickly with proper organization, though politically sensitive issues with historical dimensions would require additional time to resolve.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in March 2006, in its own words.