Franco Frattini: proposing “privileged partnership” for Turkey as alternative to full EU membership incorrectOctober 1, 2010 - 15:19 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini reiterated his country's position regarding Turkey's full European Union membership, noting that Turkey's membership holds a historic symbolic value. In an interview with the Dossier Lazio, the Il Giornale newspaper's politics and economy magazine, Frattini said he believes it's not correct to propose a “privileged partnership” for Turkey as an alternative to full EU membership and that he does not agree with the proposal. The Minister said Turkey's EU membership would carry symbolic power in terms of relations between the West and the Islamic world, similar to the fall of the Berlin Wall or the reconciliation of France and Germany. Frattini said Turkey joining the EU could be interpreted as a symbol for the harmonization of Islam with democracy and human rights and may demonstrate the EU's capacity to embrace different cultures. “This is a significant historic target which we cannot give up,” Frattini stressed, adding that there is a “long path” ahead before Turkey gets integrated into the EU and that Turkey's current picture is not promising in this regard. He said Ankara was causing some doubts in some European capitals due to its foreign policy preferences, but didn't give further details. Frattini noted that Turkey should feel confident that it will reach the finish line if it fulfills its obligations and warned that it would be a grave error to change its path. The Italian foreign minister said on Sept. 20 that Turkey was at a crossroads and that it would be “stupid to push it toward Iran.” Frattini warned: “Turkey is at a crossroads. It could make its way toward the West. But it could also make its way toward Iran, which will make it a power that is a friend of Iran,” Today’s Zaman reported. 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 | Russia warns Armenia against “falling into West’s trap” Zakharova maintained, however, that anything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed. CSTO: Armenia has not participated in secretariat’s work recently Recently Armenia has not participated in the work of the secretariat of the CSTO, Imangali Tasmagambetov said. Meeting with U.S., EU not against third parties, says Armenia The meeting scheduled for April 5 is dedicated to strengthening of the Armenia-EU-US cooperation, Yerevan added. Ucom launches network modernization efforts in few regions of Armenia In particular, on March 28, the legacy Mobile Switching Subsystem will be replaced with a new one. |