ANKARA (AA) - In a luncheon organized to celebrate Europe Day with the European Union (EU) ambassadors in Ankara, Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and his guests focused on the integration of Turkey into the EU.
According to diplomatic sources, the EU ambassadors shared their concern on growing nationalism in Turkey with Gul and refused all allegations pointing out to ''EU support for the division of Turkey.''
Gul accepted the fact that there is a growing nationalism in Turkey. ''However,'' he noted, ''both Turkey and the EU should be prepared to welcome Turkish membership in the EU.''
The EU ambassadors welcomed Gul's statement that the EU and Turkey are in the same ship. The EU ambassadors expressed a desire to close the thought gap between Turkey and EU nations on their mutual societies.
A high level EU official stressed that the EU, as a structure, does not support divisions but rather is a unifying source.
The EU ambassadors did not show any discontent with the postponement of the new Turkish Penal Code.
According to a diplomat, another point that the EU ambassadors talked about was the positive signs that the Turkish economy have been displaying recently.
(SOL-A֩
2005-05-09