Turkish foreign minister marks Europe Day

By Dilara Hamit

ANKARA (AA) - Ankara has contributed significantly to stability and prosperity of Europe, Turkey's foreign minister said Thursday to commemorate Europe Day.

Europe Day, also known as the Schuman Day, is observed on May 9 each year to mark the Schuman Declaration in 1950 that proposed the formation of a European Coal and Steel Community, the predecessor to the European Union.

"Turkey has to this day made various sacrifices for the security of Europe and has contributed significantly to stability and prosperity on the continent.

"However, Turkey’s genuine contribution to Europe will be possible through its full membership to the EU," Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a statement.

Cavusoglu said Turkey maintains its commitment to full membership in the EU which the country has set as a "strategic objective".

"The EU needs to look at Turkey and the values that it will contribute to the EU from a wider perspective and respond appropriately," he added.

The minister said Turkey is ready to contribute to the EU to overcome the challenges threatening the European Project.

"Europe is at the crossroads today. The EU will either become a global power and adopt the necessary visionary approach or yield to the dynamics of internal politics arising from populist and extremist movements.

"The second approach, with no doubt, will push Turkey away from the EU," he said.

Turkey applied for the EU membership in 1987 and accession talks began in 2005.

But negotiations stalled in 2007 due to objections of the Greek Cypriot administration on the divided island of Cyprus as well as opposition from Germany and France.