Turkey needs freedom of expression and change of mentality for joining EU

October 15, 2008 - 16:24 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier backed Turkey's EU bid on Tuesday (14 October), speaking at the opening of the Frankfurt book fair together with Turkish Nobel literature laureate Orhan Pamuk and Turkish President Abdullah Gul.



"Turkey may still have a little way to go here, but we should support Turkey on this way," the German minister said, German media reports, with Mr Steinmeier stressing that Turkey's "integration with the EU" is important for the integration of the Turkish community in Germany.



Frank-Walter Steinmeier - has a different view on Turkey than chancellor Angela Merkel, whom he will run against in next year's elections.



Some 2.3 million German residents have Turkish origins.



The minister underlined that a critical criterion for joining the EU is freedom of expression, however, adding that Turkey needs a "change of mentality" in this area on top of passing new laws.



Mr Steinmeier's position seems to be at odds with that of German chancellor Angela Merkel, with the socialist foreign minister set to run against the conservative leader in next year's general elections.



Mrs Merkel and the CDU party has consistently advocated a "privileged partnership" with Turkey instead of full EU membership.



The Turkish president and writer - as well as dozens of other Turkish authors - were invited to the Frankfurt fair as guests of honor, EUobserver.com.
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