ISTANBUL - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed on Friday an Istanbul meeting of a consultation body between Turkey and the European Union.
Speaking at the meeting of the Turkey-EU Joint Consultation Committee, Erdogan said that Turkey's membership in the EU would make valuable contributions to the Union.
"We are coming not to be burden on the EU, but to remove the burden on its shoulders," Erdogan told the meeting, and he reaffirmed that "Turkey was utterly determined" to join the the Union.
"Turkey does not have the slightest hesitation or any question mark on its mind about its goal to join the EU, and I do not agree with critics who say that our country's reforms process had slowed down," Erdogan said.
"Despite all obstructions and all discouraging attempts, Turkey is marching on its EU path with same decisiveness and enthusiasm."
(YMB-AÖ)