ISTANBUL - European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Friday that European Commission supports Turkey, and it does not want to be a party in debates on Turkey's domestic politics.
Barroso, who spoke in a conference at Bilgi University in Istanbul, said that Turkey currently takes place in the focus of EU's enlargement process.
Our aim is to make Turkey EU member through equal rights and responsibilities, Barroso said.
He said that Turkey and EU have a joint destiny which is for the interest of both sides.
Barroso said that Turkey's membership is very important in the aspect of many issues such as economic relations, security and energy.
Barroso said that freedom of expression is very important in Turkey's reaching EU standards. He welcomed the draft law which was prepared to amend article 301 of Turkish Penal Code.
Article 301 is used to prosecute those who "insult Turkishness."
When a participant said Barroso's visit to Turkey was perceived as a support to ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party which is faced with a closure case, Barroso said that this is certainly not true, and he added that EU Commission's establishing good relations with the elected government of Turkey is normal. He said that EU Commission does not want to be a party in debates on Turkey's domestic politics.
Following the conference, Barroso visited Sakip Sabanci Museum, then attended a dinner which was hosted by Marc Pierini, head of the delegation of the European Commission to Turkey.
(GC)