EU Controversy Exasperates Gul

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said Thursday (March 3) that he does not see why he should have to respond to the Commission’s Turkey representative, Hansjorg Kretschemer, who keeps repeating his argument that Turkey has not taken action regarding the EU since the December 17th summit in Brussels. "Who does Kretschemer think he is?" scolded Gul.

Gul asked: "Am I, as the foreign minister and deputy prime minister, expected to answer to Kretschemer?" When asked to respond to Kretschemer’s latest remarks, Gul said Turkey is progressing in a "self-confident" manner and once more urged the EU to do its share: "Turkey will do whatever it should do as well. This process will continue successfully. We know what we are doing."

When asked about criticisms by Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister, Nicholas Schmit, who visited Ankara this week, Gul said the meeting with the Minister was satisfactory and that the media did not see the "predominantly positive side" of the event.

Gul also said Turkey’s chief negotiator for the EU will be determined after "Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan returns from his Africa tour."