TURKEY'S RELATIONS WITH EAST NO THREAT FOR EUROPE, TURKISH DIPLOMAT SAYS

LONDON (A.A) - 26.10.2010 - Turkey's ambassador in London has rejected a European perception that his country's relations with countries to the East posed a threat for the West.
"If Turkey's vision on the East is seen as a threat for the West, then this is called purblindness. If the European Union wants to be a global power, it definitely needs Turkey's partnership," Unal Cevikoz told reporters when responding to questions in a London conference on Turkey-Azerbaijan relations.  
Cevikoz said the EU should develop an understanding that Turkey's growing relations with its neighbors in the region was an asset for the EU itself.   
Cevikoz also rejected claims that Turkey's course of foreign policy shifted to the East from its traditional western orientations, saying Turkey aimed at establishing a "zero-problem neighborhood policy."
Touching on Turkey's EU prospects, Cevikoz said the Cyprus issue was one of the obstacles against Turkey's accession, adding that the Union "made a huge mistake by saying 'yes' to the EU membership of the Greek Cypriot side, which said 'no' to the Annan plan in 2004."       
"However, Turkey should pursue the EU goal with more determination. We have embarked on this journey 47 years ago and we can wait for a few more years," he said.
On Turkey's relations with Armenia, Cevikoz said Turkey's efforts for the normalization process with Armenia had aimed at adding a new momentum to talks over the Karabakh issue as well as maintaining a regular and sustainable course of relationship between Ankara and Yerevan.    
"Turkey's efforts for normalization with Armenia should be considered within this framework. Nothing can negatively affect the brotherhood and understanding between Turkey and Azerbaijan," Cevikoz said.