Blair’s memoir hit bookstores on Wednesday, and the revealing, self-justifying 700-page volume provides plenty of fodder for Blair’s supporters and detractors to sink their teeth into.
Blair praised Gül and Erdoğan in his book, calling them wise politicians who knew what they wanted. “Furthermore, they were logical on the Cyprus issue.”
The former British prime minister was paid $7 million in advance for “A Journey,” which recounts his voyage from political neophyte to youthful prime minister with a reputation for solving seemingly intractable conflicts, and on to reviled statesman accused of war crimes.
In his book, Blair said that Erdoğan and then Foreign Minister Gül were “sensitive and foresighted people,” noting it was easy for him to reconcile with them in comparison to other Turkish politicians.
He said Turkey’s EU membership would take time, as the EU has gotten bigger and time is needed to digest the growth. Stressing that he favored Turkey’s EU membership, Blair said it is dangerous to exclude Turkey, as the country shows that Jewish, Christian and Muslim civilizations can exist together.
