The International NGO DMW believes that the encouragement of cooperation between the EU and Turkey is extremely important.During a visit by a DMW delegation to Turkey at the beginning of the year, the DMW Chairman Günther Meinel gave HBR, the leading Turkish television station, a much-noticed interview that was broadcast during the main news program on January 19, 2012.
Major newspapers carried articles about it on their front pages on January 22, 2012. In the meantime, other radio and television stations requested interviews and press conferences with the result that DMW will have to return to Turkey.
Key points from the interview:
"The EU is currently dealing with a number of problems; strong leadership will be necessary to overcome them. The election of Martin Schulz as President of the European Parliament is a gain for Europa and for Turkey also. When I discussed accession with Günter Verheugen, the former EU Commissioner in 2000, Martin Schulz also supported this view.
But Europe remains Europe, and even if a "core Europe" comes about, the euro will remain the European currency."
"Mistakes were of course made when Europe was created which are only now having an effect. The acceptance of central structures must now be reviewed and that is going to be difficult because specific national features are dominant. Europe has not grown together, it has only "been joined". Every country has kept a back door open for itself. We have to be a single entity. In the same way that the United States of America only has one president, Europe also needs a strong president."
"As regards Turkey, very many clichés need to be dissipated. We have a false impression of Turkey, and Turkey is partly to blame for this. When we think of Turkey, we think of "honor killings" and forced marriage etc. Many believe that Turkey is a backward country. Only business people and those who have visited Turkey know the modern Turkey."
I also had a false perception of Turkey 15 years ago when I visited Turkey as a tourist and only knew Turkey from the Turks living in Germany. The Turks are clever, reliable and solid partners, this is my experience of the people today. Turkey belongs in the European Union, this is what we support. Turkey is also an important link to the Arab world."
"We are also trying to remove the fear of Islam through dialogue. We have begun a dialogue with the Chairperson of the Presidency of Religious Affairs of Turkey, His Excellency Prof. Mehmet Görmez and have agreed that the talks should be based on the central values of peace and respect among human beings. There are lots of things that we have in common, that bring us together rather than drive us apart."
"We are going to accompany Turkey continuously during the talks on EU entry, and provide advice and support."
The TV interview and the subsequent coverage in the Turkish daily newspapers have generated an extraordinary amount of interest in DMW Diplomats International and its activities, so that many influential personalities from the public and economic life of Turkey have sought to become members of DMW. For this reason and because of the continuing requests for interviews from TV, radio and press, DMW will shortly be returning to Turkey.