Nicolas Sarkozy: Turkey belongs with Middle East rather than EUFebruary 25, 2011 - 17:59 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - On February 25, French President Nicolas Sarkozy is arriving in Ankara for a short visit. Meetings with Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan are on visit agenda. As Sarkozy noted in an interview with well-know Turkish journalist Mehmet Ali Birand, a wish to keep Turkey outside the European Union is explained by Turkey’s place in the region and the international community. “Turkey is a big country. It’s a bridge between the East and the West; a country that has an irreplaceable role since it connects two different worlds. This role, which today’s world needs more than ever, cannot be played by any other country. That means Turkey is still an unparalleled country. For this reason, I believe it is necessary to have close ties between Turkey and the European Union as much as possible without going any further for full membership, which in fact could be beneficial for neither Turkey nor the EU. I am not trying to insult anyone by expressing this idea,” the French President said, noting that Turkey belongs with the Middle East rather than the EU. As the President stressed in an interview published in Hurriyet Daily News, ongoing EU-Turkey negotiations are an instrument to maintain the depth in relations. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. 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". Partner news | Surveying works underway in Armenia’s Kirants Surveying works are underway in the Armenian village of Kirants in the northern Tavush province. Armenia calls for prohibiting threats of attacks on nuclear facilities Armenia has raised the need for a treaty prohibiting attacks on nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes. Armenia says ready to extend nuclear plant’s lifetime by 10 years Armenia has taken necessary measures to extend the lifetime of its nuclear power plant until 2036. Ameriabank's Trade Finance portfolio enriched with four prestigious awards from EBRD and IFC Ameriabank received the awards from international financial institutions in recognition of its trade finance operations. |