Delivering a speech at Germany’s Humboldt University as part of his schedule in Berlin, President Gül accentuated the historic fellowship between Turkey and Germany and declared Turkey to be the country that could offer the greatest opportunity in European enlargement, ending his speech by extending his thanks to his audience for waiting and listening to his address despite the threats of a fistful of marauders .

President Abdullah Gül made a speech at Humboldt University within the framework of his program in Germany.

The President commenced his speech by informing his audience that he would have to summarize his speech due to the fact that he was already two hours late because of the bomb warning and that the full text of his speech in German will be put on the webpage of the Presidency.

“WE HAVE BEEN ALLIES THROUGHOUT HISTORY”

President Gül noted that the two countries, unlike many others, have never fought each other and reiterated the historic fellowship between Turkey and Germany, referring to the visit by Sultan Abdulaziz to Germany in the 1800s and the ones Wilhelm II paid to Istanbul in 1889 and 1898. He further mentioned the German scientists and artists taking refuge in Turkey during World War 2 who he said contributed very much to the Turkish scientific world. The historic strong cooperation is still continuing today, he averred.

INEVITABLE ENLARGEMENT OF THE EU

President Gül further underlined the inevitability of the EU enlargement by referring to the first chairman of the European Economic Community, Walter Hallstein, who once said: ‘When you stop pedaling, you fall down.”

The President maintained that an introverted EU, though it is evident that the gravity center of the world will be Asia in 20-30 years, means stopping pedaling. “Turkey is the country that will offer the greatest strategic opportunities in the enlargement process of Europe in terms of the energy sector, population, accessibility to the Caucasus and Central Asia and its great economic potential.”

ARTIFICIAL OBSTACLES IN TURKEY’S WAY TO THE EU

Underscoring the importance of giving an opportunity to Turkey so that it can conclude the negotiation process successfully, the President pointed to the artificial obstacles put in Turkey’s way to the EU.

The President ended his speech, thanking: “As I am ending my address, I would like to extend my thanks to you for waiting and listening to my speech despite a fistful of marauders.”

After his program at Humboldt University, the First Couple attended the official dinner their German counterparts hosted in their honor.

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