Erdogan: We no longer need EU membership

Turkey's membership in the European Union is no longer necessary, but Ankara will not unilaterally abandon accession negotiations, says Turkish President.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday that Turkey's EU membership is no longer needed, or that Ankara will not unilaterally abandon accession negotiations.He said that the EU has misunderstood the patience that Turkey shows since 1959, when it applied for membership, and said that Turkey will not be the party will first depart from that time, reports Andolija.

"In fact, you can see that we no longer even need membership in the EU. The Union has only one way if he wants to step forward, and that is that Turkey receives a full member and is doing economic and cultural progress. If they want, we are here and we will be happy to contribute to a European future. However, for us there is no difference if it is not done, we will continue on its path of progress, "said Erdogan.

In a speech to lawmakers of the Grand National Assembly to mark the opening of the autumn session of the Turkish parliament, he stressed that Turkey was the biggest disappointment in the process of combating terrorism experienced by Member States.

'The terrorists walk freely'

"Europe has today become a place where terrorists walk freely and can store any kind of operations against Turkey and its legitimate government," said Erdogan, adding that many mind passive and intolerable attitude of some Member States to organizations Kurdistan Workers Party and the Organization Imam Fethullah Gulen , which Ankara accuses the organizer of last year's failed coup.

Turkish Minister for European Affairs Omer Celik said two weeks ago that Turkey feels that the leaders of the EU issued, saying that negotiations for accession with the country should be terminated, but pointed out that Turkey still hopes to join this block, reports Tanjug.

Since Erdogan, following the unsuccessful coup in July 2016, began large-scale arrests, including journalists and academics, the EU is increasingly critical of Turkey's membership, which has been negotiating for decades.

• 1 Oct, 2017
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