Turkey says it can be EU’s growth engine

Turkey offers the EU more than just security, says the president on the eve of his UK visit and the EU minister adds: ‘Today’s Turkey is much better than yesterday’s.’

Turkish President Abdullah Gül said Turkey could offer the EU more than security assistance with its growing energy resources, population and dynamism, in an interview in Ankara with the British Sunday Telegraph newspaper released on Nov. 19.

“Some of us are in Asia, some in Europe. We are at the very center of both sides,” Gül said. “Turkey is a natural part of Europe,” he said. “Being a member of the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights; being one of the oldest members of NATO, as well as being part of European culture and art – this is a natural path Turkey is flowing along,” Gül said.