  Czech Republic and Sweden for Turkey's EU membershipMay 30, 2009 - 19:15 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey has a great geopolitical importance for EU, Eva Filipi, the ambassadress of the Czech Republic to Turkey, said in Ankara. "EU is not a Christian club, and has many universal principles and values that are not related with religion." Filipi said. The Czech Republic has been holding the rotating presidency of the EU since the beginning of 2009, and will hand over the presidency to Sweden as of July 1, 2009. The ambassadress expressed her country's full support for Turkey's EU membership bid and said both Turkey and the EU should be fair as much as they could and fulfill their obligations, Anatolia News Agency reports. Eva Filipi, the ambassadress of the Czech Republic to Turkey, said that there were many reasons to make Turkey a full member of the EU. Filipi enumerated these reasons as Turkey's geopolitic and strategic importance and location. Turkey became an EU candidate country in December 1999. The union launched accession talks with Turkey on October 3, 2005. President of France Nicolas Sarkozy's and Germany's Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel have a strict positions in relation to Turkey's joining the EU. They repeatedly stated, that Turkey can aspire to privileged partnership, at most.   Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Related sections Topic Latest news Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals  Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation.Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush.Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year.Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |
