EU should mind its own future: Turkish PM

ELAZIĞ

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said on Oct. 21 that the European Union should mind its own future rather than talking about Turkey.

"The EU should mind its own future rather than talking about us and decide on its future vision. One step forward and two steps back for 40 years. What are you doing? Make a decision. You are constantly trying to raise difficulties in Turkey’s membership. Say what your real intent is and do not make us lose time,” Yıldırım said, speaking at the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) sixth ordinary congress in the eastern province of Elazığ.

“Turkey does not have any change in its decision on the way to EU membership. What matters is the direction the EU will head,” he added.

He also claimed that the bloc’s struggle was to keep Turkey out for a long time and said the fact the country was making its own decisions and maintaining its development in a stable way was disturbing the EU.

The premier also slammed Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen’s remarks for questioning Turkey’s accession bid under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

“Who are you? How can you have a say about Turkey and the President of the Republic of Turkey? Turkey’s regime is a democracy and republic,” Yıldırım said.