Turkey to continue EU membership process with determination, adviser says

ANKARA (A.A) -Chief Adviser of Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ibrahim Kalin, said that, despite disappointments over delaying tactics based on anti-Islamic bias, Turkey would continue its European Union (EU) membership process with determination.
In an interview given to the Washington Times, Kalin stressed that the EU looked like a club that "changed rules after the game has begun" when it came to dealing with Turkey's EU membership process.
It would not be the end of the world for Turkey if the EU does not accept Turkey into the Union. However, if Europe turns into a continent without tolerance, then it would be the eventual loser, Kalin said.
All great powers in history collapsed when they lost tolerance, Kalin noted.
Turkey openly rejected France and Germany's offer of "privileged partnership" rather than full EU membership. The EU will have to choose between either letting Turkey into the Union or rejecting Turkey's membership, Kalin stressed.
Turkey is already a member of many European institutions and organizations and conducts most trade with Europe. In a general sense, Turkey has integrated with Europe with its society, economy, politics and foreign policy, Kalin said.
Certain individuals criticize Turkey for trying to develop relations with Iran, Syria and other several countries. Turkey has relations with Russia and the Balkans as well as with Greece. When you look at the whole picture, you can see that Turkey is making efforts to develop relations with all countries, Kalin underlined.