Yalcintas: Reaching EU Standards Is More Important Than EU Membership

BRUSSELS - Murat Yalcintas, chairperson of Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO), said Tuesday that reaching EU standards was more important than EU membership for Turkey.
Yalcintas, who is currently in Belgian capital of Brussels to hold a series of talks, met Michael Leigh, Director General of the European Commission`s Enlargement Directorate General and EP rapporteur for Turkey Ria Oomen-Ruijten.
Yalcintas got together with foreign reporters afterwards.
"Frankly speaking, Turkey`s EU membership will be more advantageous for EU than it will be for Turkey," said Yalcintas during the gathering.
"Our membership is not only important for EU, but it has a great importance for the region where Turkey is located, as well as the international community," he said.
"We attach more importance to reaching EU standards than becoming a member to the union. Membership is a by-product of the EU process. We can sacrifice membership, but we can never sacrifice this process," Yalcintas said.
Upon a question on French President Nicolas Sarkozy`s opposing stance regarding Turkey`s EU membership, Yalcintas said politicians changed, however, commercial relations and friendship between the countries remained.