Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2016-11-22-Speech-2-601-000"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20161122.30.2-601-000"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spoken text |
"Madam President, many of us have long pointed out that if, over many years, we treated Turkey with disrespect and disdain, we should not now be surprised if she should give up her Western orientation of the past century and head off in a different direction.
I have just returned from Istanbul where I was attending the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. I can tell you that many Turks are angry and disappointed at what they see as lack of support from those who say they are her friends. Turkey sees how she stood firm throughout the Cold War at the borders of the Soviet Union. She is now at the heart of this arc of crisis in the Black Sea and Middle East region, she has suffered perpetual terrorist attacks over decades – particularly from the Soviet-created PKK – she is now hosting nearly three million refugees, costing her USD 25 billion, she is in the front line of the fight against Daesh, and she has suffered an attempted coup.
It could well be the case that Turkey, in due course, will seek a relationship with the EU different from full membership. That should be her decision. It would be a gross strategic error for the EU itself to slam the door in the face of Turkey, a country of crucial geo-strategic importance, a staunch NATO ally for 64 years, a crucial partner in combating jihadists, and with so many positive links to Western Europe. Don’t forget that for many good people in Turkey the journey is perhaps more important than arriving at the destination ..."@en1
|
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata | |
| lpv:videoURI |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples