CHICAGO - European Union (EU) would gain much from Turkey's membership, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday.
Erdogan, who met with Turks living in Chicago, said that Turkey wanted the EU to take a step and start full membership negotiations with Turkey, which had been delayed for 41 years.
Turkey would help the EU change its perspective on the Islam world of 1.5 billion people and make the Islam world change its point of views towards the EU, Erdogan stated.
Erdogan said that all friends of Turkey in the world should clearly express their stance and end isolation of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
Although some steps were taken to end TRNC's isolation, they were not satisfactory, Erdogan stressed.
Erdogan later attended a ceremony in which he was presented with traditional ''Golden Plate'' award of the Academy of Achievement.
This award is given to artists, politicians, scientists, and authors. King Abdullah of Jordan, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg were other people who were rewarded in the ceremony.
Erdogan left the United States for Turkey after the ceremony.
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, who went to Savannah, the United States, on Tuesday, attended G-8 summit in Sea Island.
At the summit of the G-8 countries, including the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada and Russia, leaders explained their opinions on the United States' Broader Middle East and North Africa project.
The summit was held with participation of ''democratic partner'' Turkey and the countries that were invited under the project.
(BRC) 13.06.2004