BERLIN
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his country's commitment to join the European Union, urging the 27-member bloc to handle relations with Turkey with "a strategic vision."
"Turkey did not give up on its target to become an EU member because we believe in the Union's goals and achievements," Erdogan told in address to Turks living in Berlin during a ceremony on the occasion of the inauguration of the new Turkish embassy.
Erdogan said the EU should stick with its enlargement process to provide peace and prosperity for more parts of the world, adding that the Union still was an important global actor.
The Turkish premier underlined that both Turkey and the EU would gain from Ankara's accession, adding that blocking Turkey's membership negotiations on political motives benefited neither side.
Turkey will not be a burden on EU
Erdogan sought to give assurances Turkey's membership in the European Union would not put extra load on the European Union.
"We have said that we are coming not to be a burden on EU's shoulders but to reduce the Union's burdens. But they did not understand us, they did not want to understand us, and they still do not understand us," Erdogan said.
Turkey's membership will make EU stronger
Erdogan also underlined Turkey's accession to the European Union would strengthen the Union as a global player.
"I believe that Turkey with its growing economy will contribute to the EU to boost influence in the Middle East, the Balkans, Caucasus and Central Asia and to play a more active role globally as a union that supports peace," Erdogan said in his closing remarks of a meeting titled "Europe Beyond the Crisis" at the Nicolas Berggruen Institute in Berlin.
