Gurel: Turkey's Eu Membership Is Abused And Explained Incorrectly

KIZILCAHAMAM (A.A) - State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel has said that the issue of Turkey's EU membership is something that is ''abused and explained incorrectly.''
Speaking at a meeting in Kizilcahamam on Saturday, Gurel said that Turkey was the only country which entered the Customs Union before joining the EU.
''We have the right to join the EU if we meet certain conditions. But the EU should also fulfill certain commitments,'' he said. ''If by the end of this year, the EU doesn't decide to start membership talks with us, the EU should know that Turkish people will tell the government to reconsider relations with the EU.''
''Will they start membership talks independent of the situation in Cyprus if we achieve to meet the political conditions we included in our national program. Or do they have any intention to postpone the negotiations by bringing up other excuses? If they accept Southern Cyprus to the EU, this would not be a demonstration of good intentions,'' he commented.
Gurel stressed that neither the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) nor Turkey would accept a solution that denies political equality of two sides, the TRNC's sovereignty and Turkey's guaranteur rights over Cyprus.
He said that the Cyprus issue should be kept separate from Turkey's EU membership. He added that the Southern Cyprus should join the union at the same time with Turkey.
Gurel criticized Turkey's energy policies and said one of the biggest handicaps of Turkey was high energy prices.