MADRID - Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu participated Monday in a meeting on Turkey and Spain at the Madrid-based think-tank, Nueva Economia Forum, as part of visit to Spain.
Delivering a speech at the meeting on "Turkey-Spain: Contributions to Global Peace and Security," Davutoglu said Turkish culture was an integral part of the European culture.
"I can find hundreds of reasons why Turkish culture is part of the European culture. Just to name one I can say that European history could not be written properly if Ottoman archives had not been opened. Whether you like it or not Turkey is a part of Europe," Davutoglu said in response to question on remarks by EP Parliament Speaker Jerzy Buzek who told a Spanish daily that "Turkey's cultural heritage puts the country's EU process in peril."
"Let's say Turkey withdrew it bid to join the EU. Would the Union's problems just go away? You can deny the Turkish culture, but you cannot deny millions of Turks living in Europe," Davutoglu said.
The Turkish minister expressed optimism over Spain's upcoming takeover in January of the EU presidency, saying that Turkey had great expectations from the Spanish presidency.
"Spain truly understands that Turkey is active and strategic and is aware of Turkey's economic potential. The Spanish presidency will have its positive affects not only in the opening of new policy chapters, but in getting closer politically as well," Davutoglu said.
Also participating in the meeting, Spain's state secretary for the EU, Diego Lopez Garrido, reiterated his country's support for Turkey's bid to join the Union.
"Undoubtedly, Spain supports Turkey's full membership in the European Union," Garrido said.
The Spanish secretary said Turkey's strategic importance would be appreciated better when the Lisbon Treaty went into force.
"Turkey is a bridge between countries devoted to stability and peace. Turkey can specifically make major contributions to modernization, peace and stability in the Mediterranean," Garrido said.