Westerwelle ures EU to engage Tukey

Thursday, 23 September 2010

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle called up on the European Union to step up its faltering talks with Turkey over the country’s bid to join the bloc, saying Europe shoul send Anlara a positive signal in response o the country’s latest political reforms.

He suggested , Europe cannot afford to underestimate the country’s rising economic strength and strategic importance.

Whereas many in Europe view Turkey as a poor supplicant to a rih Europe, Mr.Westerwele warns that such a perspective underestimates Turkeys fast economic rise-its per capita gross domestic product has roughly tripples in the last 8 years-as well as the speed of change in global politics.

Turkeys strategic importance means Europes engagement with the country needs to go far beyond the nitty*gritty of the EU accession talks.he said.