KONYA, Turkey
EU will become stronger with an army and increase its deterrence ability, Turkey's EU Minister Volkan Bozkir said Wednesday.
Answering questions on his way to central Turkey’s Konya province, Bozkir said the EU had the potential to be the world's balance of power.
He said the world's balance of power had become corrupted following the disintegration of Soviet Union in 1991; however, "The EU has the potential to fulfill that balance."
He also said that at the moment the EU was a soft power. “EU's voice will get stronger with an army and will increase its deterrence ability… If you want to be a super power, you need to have a strong man power, young population, an army and secured energy sources.”
The Turkish official's remarks came after European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called on EU member states on March 8 to develop a combined military force against external threats, in a veiled reference to Russia in the aftermath of the Ukraine crisis.
- EU accession talks
About the possibility of opening another chapter in the EU accession talks, Bozkir said Turkey's stance on the issue was clear.
"Turkey is doing its best to meet every criterion about the opening of chapters. There is a possibility of opening chapter 17…Without a new political obstacle, we hope to open the new chapter in the first semester of the year."
French Foreign Minister Lauren Fabius announced that France was lifting its veto on EU Chapter 22 on "Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments."
To gain membership, Turkey must successfully conclude negotiations with the EU in 35 policy chapters, which involve reforms and adoption of European standards. So far, 14 chapters have been opened, while 17 remain blocked and another four have yet to be discussed.
- Foreign militants' issue
About criticism on Turkey on the issue of allowing foreigners to cross into Syria to join militant groups, Bozkir said Turkey hosted around 39 million tourists every year and without prior information shared by the countries, Turkey "cannot simply ask people if they are a terrorist or not."
The EU Minister said Turkey was working in coordination with the EU on the issue and until now, 12,500 people were reported to Turkish authorities as suspects.
"Without the necessary precautions, the issue will affect all of Europe," he said.
Recently, three British girls, Shamima Begum, 15, Amira Abase, 15, and Kadiza Sultana, 16, went missing from East London in early February and reportedly arrived in Turkey to cross into Syria.
Last week, a group of 16 Indonesians were also arrested near the Syrian border of Turkey, who were allegedly in touch with Daesh over the Internet and had been promised a monthly stipend of $10,000 per person in Syria.
According to Turkish officials, Turkey has deported more than 1,100 Syria-bound foreigners back to their countries since January.
