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Turkey does not expect privileges from anyone in EU bid, President Gül
"I would like to remind everyone that stirring up unnecessary trouble (in accession talks) has no legal foundation," Gül told reporters at a joint press conference Tuesday with his Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano.
Responding to a question by an Italian reporter, on remarks of certain European Statesmen claiming Turkey did not share the same culture with Europe, Gül said, in 2004, the EU summit unanimously decided to start negotiations after long discussions and through assessments, implying that this decision was legally binding.
"Pacta sunt servanda is the fundamental principle of international relations. This principle is binding for all," said Gül.
Gül said integration of countries like Spain and England with large populations and economies to the EU have always been painful, noting that a similar process was in progress with Turkey.
He said Turkey would fulfill its responsibilities and successfully complete negotiations and adapt its standards to thos of the EU.
"Then the EU will gather and say Turkey fulfilled the criteria, we can unite. Some countries decided to hold referendum on the issue. People of these countries may not want to be unite with Turkey. We will respect that. These are issues to be discussed in the future. Discussing these now will mean we are not honouring our own signatures and this would create a crisis of confidence. And that would not beneath the EU," said Gül.
Gül said Turkey embraced democracy, respect for human rights, free market principles and pluralism and continued to exert efforts to enhance these, underlining that in this context debates about Turkey's direction were futile.
RELATIONS WITH ITALY
Gül pointed out that Turkey's economic relations with Italy was growing, noting that with a trade volume of 13 Billion Euro, Italy was Turkey's third largest trade partner after Russia and Germany.
He said nearly 700 Italian companies operated in Turkey, and companies from two countries undertook major joint projects.
Gül said here was great cooperation between the two countries in the area of energy noting that they both attached great importance to further enhancing this cooperation.
Gül said they also discussed Turkey's accession to the EU during the meeting with his Italian counterpart, and extended his thanks to Napolitano for Italy's strong support to Turkey's EU bid.
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