British PM voices strong support for Turkey's EU membership
Tue 27 Jul 2010
During his visit to Ankara British Prime Minister David Cameron issued strong support for Turkey’s EU membership aspirations: “This is something I feel very passionately about… Together, I want us to pave the road from Ankara to Brussels,” Cameron said after a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Furthermore, Cameron emphasised that Britain remains opposed to the blockade of Gaza, calling it a prison camp.
Cameron challenged France and Germany on their position to Turkish EU membership and made clear that Turkey cannot be allowed to remain outside the EU, adding that those who opposed EU membership of Turkey were driven by protectionism, narrow nationalism or prejudice. “When I think about what Turkey has done to defend Europe as a NATO ally, and what Turkey is doing today in Afghanistan alongside our European allies, it makes me angry that your progress toward EU membership can be frustrated in the way it has been,” he said. “My view is clear. I believe it’s just wrong to say Turkey can guard the camp but not be allowed to sit inside the tent.”
Just as in his earlier statements, Cameron said during his visit to Turkey that “the situation in Gaza has to change. Humanitarian goods and people must flow in both directions. Gaza cannot and must not be allowed to remain a prison camp.” Finally, Cameron urged Turkey and Israel not to give up on their friendship. The relationship between the two countries deteriorated after Israeli commando’s shot dead nine Turkish pro-Palestinian activists who were heading to Gaza on a boat.
Source: The Guardian, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Hürriyet Daily News
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