“A Just Memory For All”, Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, 4 May 2014 Article by H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoglu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey published in Foreign Policy magazine (USA) on 15 November 2013 Joint Article by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey and Mr. Zlatko Lagumdzija, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina published in Washington Post on 2 August 2013 Article by H.E.Mr. Ahmet Davutoglu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey published in Guardian, June 2013 Article by H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoglu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey published in Middle East Policy Council, March 2013 Article by H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoglu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey published in Foreign Policy magazine (USA) on 21 March 2013 Article by H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoglu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey published in Politique Internationale, Autumn 2012 (French) Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Published in Hürriyet Daily News on 1 June 2012 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Published in TEPAV & IPLI Turkey Policy Brief Series, March 2012 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Spectrum, the Biannual Publication of the CTBTO Interview by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in AUC Cairo Review (Egypt) on 12 March 2012 Interview by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Folha de Sao Paulo (Brazil) on 28 February 2012 Article by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey and Mr. Erkki Tuomioja, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland published in Hürriyet Daily News, 25 February 2012 Interview by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in The Australian Newspaper (Australia) on 21 January 2012 Interview by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Der Spiegel Newspaper (Germany) on 12 December 2011 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Le Matin Newspaper (Morocco) on 14 November 2011 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Estado de Sao Paulo Newspaper (Brazil) on 9 October 2011 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Kathimerini Newspaper (Greece) on 10 March 2011 Interview by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey to Kathimerini Newspaper (Greece), 6 March 2011 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Süddeutsche Zeitung Newspaper (Germany) on 4 February 2011 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in China Daily Newspaper (China) on 2 November 2010 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Foreign Policy magazine (USA) on 20 May 2010 Article by Foreign Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoğlu and Foreign Minister of Brazil Celso Amorim published in New York Times Newspaper on 26 May 2010 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Irish Times Newspaper (Ireland) on 9 March 2010 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Asharqalawsat Newspaper (Saudi Arabia) on 02.01.2010 Article by Foreign Minister of Turkey H.E. Ahmet Davutoglu and Minister Frattini published in Corriere della Sera Newspaper (Italy) on 18.11.2009 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in El Pais Newspaper (Spain) on 16.11.2009 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Nine o’Clock and Adevarul Newspapers (Romania) on 29.10.2009 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in De Volkskrant Newspaper (Netherlands) on 08.10.2009 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Daily Star Newspaper (Lebanon) on 31 July 2009
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  5. Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in De Volkskrant Newspaper (Netherlands) on 08.10.2009
Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in De Volkskrant Newspaper (Netherlands) on 08.10.2009

                 
                       EUROPE NEEDS TO MAKE GOOD ON HER PROMISES TOWARDS TURKEY


Turkey expects that the EU will respect her obligations towards Turkey. Both parties have a vested interest in the accession of Turkey.

The Netherlands is one of Turkey’s important, political, economic and cultural partners. This is encouraged by visits from highranking visitors like the one by Queen Beatrix to Turkey in 2007.

On Wednesday, the third meeting was held of the Turkish-Dutch Conference, which was founded in 2008 in order to intensify the bilateral relations and to strengthen the cooperation in bilateral and multi-lateral fields by regular gatherings. The Netherlands is one of the biggest investors in Turkey and our mutual trade is developing in a strong fashion. Last year it came to over 6 billion Dollar. The Turks in the Netherlands are a driving force behind our relation.

The friendship between Turkey and the Netherlands started when the tulip –a Turkish symbol of beauty and elegance- was brought over to the Netherlands in the 16th century. Diplomatic relations were entered upon in 1612; in two year time we will be celebrating our 400th anniversary of these relations.

The relations gradually intensified after the Republic of Turkey was declared in 1923. The new republic was oriented towards the West and was determined to introduce a modern view of things in the entire Turkish society. This Western orientation still remains the backbone of the Turkish foreign policy. From it springs the fact that since the end of the Second World War Turkey has been striving after integration with the Euro-Atlantic institutions. Due the path followed by Turkey, we were co-founders of the United Nations and the Council of Europe and a member to the OECD and NATO.

Turkey –in particular since the Association Treaty of 1963= has embraced the goal of becoming a member of the European Economic Community, which developed into the European Union. That is a strategic goal for us.

The EU is an excellent result of a dynamic process in the European history. The Union has created an ear of freedom, stability, peace and prosperity by way of the dialogue and by compromise. The historical dynamic of the EU is moving onward as a result of which the road is cleared to further European integration and success.

Turkey is likewise moving forward on the historical road chosen by way of an exceptional future-oriented transformation process. On 3 October 2005 my country started to conduct accession negotiations with the EU. The Turkish road towards the EU-membership is long and complex. Nevertheless, we are determined to book further progress, despite all the problems. This process is of crucial importance to both Turkey and Europe and will have considerable consequences for the rest of the world.

My country has introduced important reforms which would have been unthinkable only a couple of years ago. It is referred to as a ‘silent revolution’. The human rights situation has further improved These reforms have not only been implemented from within our vision of the EU, but also on account of a better future for Turkey. We will continue to further stimulate the ongoing reform process in order to meet the highest standards possible. At the same time we expect that our European friends will respect the principles and obligations of the EU towards Turkey and will develop a vision of the future.

Turkey has been an invaluable member of NATO during the tense years of the Cold War. This is still the case right up to today, now that the organization has acquired a broader task. The close cooperation between the EU and NATO has become a key-factor, now that the necessity of a more robust transatlantic alliance is growing.

We are living in an era where the effects of globalization and the fruits of the information are changing the world in an unprecedented manner. More freedom and a strong bond with democracy, the human rights and the constitutional state are now the hallmarks of a civilized and modern society.

In addition to this we are striving after peace and stability in the whole world. All the more so since Turkey happens to be located in a rather explosive region. Hence the reason why we are conducting a pro-active and result-oriented foreign policy. By our active involvement with the problems in the region, from Afghanistan to the Balkan, the Caucasus and the Middle East, Turkey has become an indispensable player in peace operations. With the appointing of Turkey as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council the international community has expressed her trust in our country.

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