ERDOGAN: “WE ARE DETERMINED TO MAKE TURKEY A DEVELOPED COUNTRY”

Speaking at a meeting of his party in the southern Anatolian city of Adana, Erdogan stated that Turkey was taking giant steps forward in its European Union membership bid but that the road to the Union was not without obstacles. “We are trying to overcome deep-rooted problems that have been holding Turkey back for a half-century now,” said Erdogan, adding that certain quarters in the country were trying to hinder the nation’s progress. “But we have no intention of retreating from our quest for the EU,” pledged the premier.