MUNICH - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey has become a symbol of change in its region and that an EU with Turkey would become a real global actor as it dreamed so far.
"Improving value of Turkey is not limited with the Middle East only. Turkey has become a no.1 partner and a stable symbol of positive change not only in the Balkans, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean regions, but also in Pakistan, Afghanistan Central Asia and Africa," Erdogan said in his article published in German daily Suddeutsche Zeitung.
Erdogan said Turkey's accession to EU would help strengthen its role, spread democratic values and it would resound in the Middle East and several other countries.
"At the same time, together with Turkey, the European Union will become a real global actor as it dreamed so far," Erdogan said.
On Iraq, Erdogan said Turkey assumed an active role for the preservation of Iraq's territorial integrity as well as peace and stability in the region, reminding that Turkish companies commenced 3.5-billion-USD construction projects in Iraq despite all challenges.
Stating that Turkey was just in its fight against threat posed by the terrorist organization PKK, Erdogan said Turkey has been monitoring developments in Kirkuk and warned international community to be careful about the problem in Kirkuk region.
"Our goal should be to help all groups in Iraq and to reach a compromise under the auspices of United Nations," Erdogan said.
Erdogan also indicated that Turkey has perfect relations with Arab countries and Israel, noting that it would use this position to support peace process in the Middle East.