08.11.2004, 14:37
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America Deeply Supports Turkey's EU Bid
The US Ambassador to the European Union (EU), Rockwell Anthony Schnabel, said that America strongly, but discreetly supports Turkey's EU membership bid.
Schnabel, before a trip to Ankara, said that Turkey's dynamic, young population would make the EU stronger. Schnabel said that Bush would take the necessary steps toward putting relations back on track.
"It is useful to be silent," said Schnabel. Schnabel said that a change in tactics was not a change in policy. "Membership is an interior issue of the EU. They will make the decision. So we have to be silent. Our stance is well known. The support for Turkey given by our many presidents and administrations has never changed. It isn't reflected much in public opinion; however, our support continues."
Schnabel evaluated the debate about Turkey within EU countries: "I do not think that the arguments in Europe, especially in France, stems from Turkophobia. Turkey is a big country; it is natural to go through these arguments. Many debates occurred before the May 1st enlargement."
Schnabel continued: "With Turkey's EU membership, the power of some countries will lessen. With the enlargement of the Eastern Europe, the power of France and Germany diluted because 10 countries have 10 votes. However we are supporters of a strong, prosperous EU. They asked me why we support a more competitive EU and we say that a strong Europe is better for Europe, US and the world. We make more than half of the world's trade with EU. Our values with EU are the same but we sometimes feel ourselves different."
America Deeply Supports Turkey's EU Bid
The US Ambassador to the European Union (EU), Rockwell Anthony Schnabel, said that America strongly, but discreetly supports Turkey's EU membership bid.
Schnabel, before a trip to Ankara, said that Turkey's dynamic, young population would make the EU stronger. Schnabel said that Bush would take the necessary steps toward putting relations back on track.
"It is useful to be silent," said Schnabel. Schnabel said that a change in tactics was not a change in policy. "Membership is an interior issue of the EU. They will make the decision. So we have to be silent. Our stance is well known. The support for Turkey given by our many presidents and administrations has never changed. It isn't reflected much in public opinion; however, our support continues."
Schnabel evaluated the debate about Turkey within EU countries: "I do not think that the arguments in Europe, especially in France, stems from Turkophobia. Turkey is a big country; it is natural to go through these arguments. Many debates occurred before the May 1st enlargement."
Schnabel continued: "With Turkey's EU membership, the power of some countries will lessen. With the enlargement of the Eastern Europe, the power of France and Germany diluted because 10 countries have 10 votes. However we are supporters of a strong, prosperous EU. They asked me why we support a more competitive EU and we say that a strong Europe is better for Europe, US and the world. We make more than half of the world's trade with EU. Our values with EU are the same but we sometimes feel ourselves different."