Turkey key to solving Europe’s problems: Turkish parliament speaker

STRASBOURG - Anadolu Agency

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Turkey, a founder of the Council of Europe, is one of the key members in tackling the challenges the group faces, Turkish Parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman said on Sept. 16.

His remarks came in an address at the European Conference of Presidents of Parliaments in Strasbourg.  
  
Kahraman highlighted the Council of Europe’s growing importance in challenges discussed during the meeting without making concessions to democracy, human rights or the rule of law.      
  
“Turkey, as one of the founding countries of the Council of Europe, has been among the largest contributors to its budget to boost its operational capacity to overcome challenges,” he said.  
      
About Turkey’s contributions, he added, “We continue to help protect and improve our common values, as we have done so far.”        

The parliament speaker also said Turkey will host the group’s next conference in 2018.        
The European Conference of Presidents of Parliaments is hosted by one of the member countries every two years and lasts for two days.