EU Membership is Turkey’s goal for 40 years

Speaking at the gathering, Arinc said: “European Union membership has been Turkey’s aim for 40 years.” Stressing that all Turkish governments had made progress towards this goal, Arinc said that some mistakes had also regrettably been made, adding, “If not for these mistakes, we could have joined the Union some time ago, at the same time as Greece.” The Parliament speaker also called on Turks in Germany to adapt themselves to the society in which they live without losing their own values.