Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul published an opinion piece in the International Herald Tribune in December 2006, calling on the European Union to remain committed to Türkiye's membership process ahead of a pivotal EU decision he warned could reshape bilateral relations.
Gul acknowledged European public anxieties about enlargement and conceded that full membership could ultimately be decided by referendum votes across member states, placing the final outcome in European hands. He argued, however, that withdrawing encouragement from Türkiye at this stage would be counterproductive, describing the accession process as nothing less than a national transformation requiring sustained patience and effort.
The minister pointed to Türkiye's cumulative economic growth of 35 percent over the preceding four years and projected that the country would become the sixth largest economy in Europe, arguing this made Türkiye an increasingly valuable partner for the EU.
Gul warned that pressuring Türkiye to meet one-sided conditions while other obligations went unaddressed risked derailing the entire process. He insisted that bringing Türkiye into the EU would strengthen the bloc rather than dilute it, and urged decision-makers to weigh the long-term political, economic, cultural, and strategic consequences for future generations.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in December 2006, in its own words.