Membership in the European Union remains a strategic goal for Turkey, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Ankara today, Turkish private television NTV reported, quoted by BTA.
The two held a joint press conference after talking at the presidency in the Turkish capital about Turkey's European integration and the developments in Syria.
"EU membership remains a strategic goal for Turkey. It is clear that our membership will make a significant contribution to both our country and the Union. "The latest developments have further strengthened Turkey's position as a key country," Erdogan said, referring to the situation in Syria.
According to the Turkish president, the main topic of the talks with Ursula von der Leyen and her delegation was taking common steps to revive Turkey-EU relations.
"I conveyed to them that we expect them to present a new vision that will strengthen Turkey's membership perspective," he stressed.
Erdogan added that the issue of Syria was also discussed during the meeting.
"We saw that, especially in terms of preserving Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, we are of the same opinion on (the need for) establishing an inclusive government," he said.
The president stressed the seriousness of the consequences of the war in Syria, where, according to him, approximately one million people have died and half of the population has been displaced.
"Syria must recover quickly with the resolute support of its neighbors, friendly and brotherly countries, the EU and international organizations," Erdogan said.
According to him, the international community did not provide sufficient support to the Syrian people during the war, but "now it is possible to compensate for this. The way to do this is to support the efforts to build and rebuild Syria," he added.