Turkish FM: EU Membership Strategic for Ankara

EU membership remains a strategic aim for Turkey, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Thursday after meeting with his Polish and Romanian counterparts.

    In the wake of the July 15 failed coup attempt, "some EU countries failed to pass the test when it comes to defending democracy," Cavusoglu was quoted as saying by Anadolu news agency. "We, on the other hand, are thankful to brother countries who expressed their support to the elected government from the first day after the coup bid and then visited us," he added. 

    Cavusoglu reiterated the visa-free travel deal, readmission deal, and refugee deal, which all link Turkey and the EU, are connected and related. "These agreements are connected to each other. We all should implement all three of these agreements," Cavusoglu said. "It is not right to say, 'Let's implement the deal that favors the EU, but not the one favorable to Turkey,' it is not fair." 

Source: QNA