Turkish FM Gul Stands Firm

He also laid out in the clearest terms yet, that Turkey would accept no ‘special status’ in its EU candidacy. "For us, negotiations mean negotiations for full membership. No other alternative is possible for us," he said in the interview, which was reported by the French news agency AFP.

The Cyprus question was raised again last week by Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos, who called for a dialogue with Ankara, which refuses to acknowledge his government although it has already joined the EU. The Foreign Minister referred to the referendum in April this year in which Turkish Cypriots approved UN President Kofi Annan’s peace plan for the island, which was rejected by the Greek south of the island. "We have already done what we have to do, courageously and decisively," he said.

Gul also spoke of the benefits of the EU for Turkey. "We have to be realistic. Is there a possibility of an Islamic Union that could work together like the EU? No, there isn’t. Which Islamic country would be happy to adopt the methods and institutions of the Turkish republic? Everyone today wants to live in a democratic society like the EU that guarantees the civil rights and freedoms of individuals and society. Then there is the economic dimension and further, the EU offers security and stability. The EU values ‘variety in unity’ at the head of its Constitution," he continued, "We believe this: We have the freedom to protect and experience our own identity within these global values."