BRUSSELS - Turkey`s Foreign Minister addressed the members of the External Relations Committee of the European Parliament and replied to questions of parliamentarians in Brussels on Wednesday.
Delivering a speech, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said Turkey was working hard to improve stability, peace and prosperity in its region.
"Turkey, even as a candidate country, makes remarkable contributions to EU (and its foreign policy). When it becomes a member, EU`s strategical depth will improve," Babacan said.
During his speech, Babacan commented on Turkey`s relations with the neighboring countries as well.
"We have a good dialogue with Iran. Political dialogue is the key to the solution of the nuclear dispute. Turkey does not want any nuclear weapons in its region," he said.
Babacan also said that Turkey was a country which defended Iraq`s territorial integrity and political unity in the strongest way.
He said Turkey`s fight against the terrorist organization, which used Iraq`s north as a base and infiltrated to Turkey with the purpose of waging attacks, should not be perceived as a violation in terms of territorial integrity or a threat against the Iraqi public.
"The terrorist organization makes propaganda claiming that `it represents Kurdish people`. Do not be deceived by that," Babacan said.
Upon a question Cyprus issue, Babacan said the current opportunity in the island should be evaluated well. "The window cannot always stay open," he said.
Replying to a question on the status of religious freedoms in Turkey, Babacan said not only non-Muslim minorities in Turkey had problems regarding religious freedoms, but the Muslim majority experienced similar problems as well.
Commenting on the closure case filed against Turkey`s ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, Babacan said he hoped the Turkish jurisdiction would preserve its prestige and take a decision in conformity with Kopenhag criteria and the principles of the Venice Commission.
(DO-AÖ)