EUROPEAN COMMISSION HEAD JOSE MANUEL BARROSO IN TURKEY

European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso held a series of talks in Turkey as the official guest of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on April 10-12. Barroso's visit to Turkey was the second by a European Commission president since the 1963 Ankara Treaty (the first was made by Romano Prodi in 2004). Barroso and European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn began their landmark visit to Turkey on April 10. They first visited Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Writing in Anıtkabir's memorial guestbook, Barosso paid respect to Atatürk, hailing his great vision, his service to his country with determined reforms, and his bringing Turkey to the modern age. Barroso and Rehn later held separate meetings with President Abdullah Gül and Prime Minister Erdoğan. Meeting with Gül at the Çankaya Presidential Palace, Barroso said that if Turkey meets all the necessary conditions for full EU membership, nobody can prevent it from joining.

 

Erdoğan: “Turkey will continue its reforms with determination”

 

In his meeting with the two EU officials, Erdoğan said that Turkey’s full EU membership will send a message of tolerance and that Turkey joining the bloc would be a strategic move with global impact. Erdoğan also reiterated that Turkey will continue its reform efforts with determination. At a joint press conference afterwards, Barroso underlined the importance of democratic implementation of the principle of secularism, saying, "A secular government must respect both freedom of religion and freedom to disbelieve." For his part, Erdoğan said, "This high-level visit from the EU shows that the Union places great importance on Turkey’s EU membership." He stressed that Turkey is doing its best to enact necessary reforms, adding that Turkey will not accept anything short of full EU membership. Foreign Minister Ali Babacan met with Barroso in Istanbul on April 11. Speaking at the meeting, Babacan said Turkey's goal was to join the EU as a full member, adding that his country considers the Union "a unity of common values such as plurality, tolerance, democracy and differences." Babacan said Turkey had made remarkable progress over the last five years, which he said was built on "a strong economic program as well as EU reforms." Babacan also said that as long as Turkey continues its reforms the EU should stay loyal to its commitments as well. Afterwards, Barroso proceeded to Istanbul and attended a conference at Bilgi University and visited Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomeos.