Turkish President Abdullah Gul criticized German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy who were against of accepting Ankara to the European Union (EU) as a full-member, RIA Novosti reported.
"Different politicians appear and disappear. They speak something for various reasons, perhaps due to of lack of vision of perspectives, but we will not pay attention to them," the Turkish leader said after talks with Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva on May 12.
Speaking recently in Berlin after talks with Sarkozy, Merkel expressed support for granting Turkey the status of a privileged partner of the EU rather than full membership, which Ankara seeks.
The French president supported the German Chancellor and noted that the EU should abandon the practice of giving the empty promises to Turkey and concentrate on establishing its joint economic and cultural area. Earlier, Sarkozy also was against accepting Turkey to the EU, at the same time, he invited Turkey to join the Mediterranean Union - economic organization uniting the countries of the region.
Turkish officials have repeatedly stated that they will not accept a privileged partnership or membership in the Mediterranean Union as an alternative to integration into the EU.
Negotiations on Turkey's EU membership were launched in 2005. Experts forecast Ankara can become a full member of the European Union within 10-15 years.
The EU has repeatedly demanded from Turkey to accelerate democratic reforms envisaged in the negotiation process by threatening to freeze negotiations on the so-called integration profiles. Ankara, in response, stated its commitment to integration into the European Union and the intention to actively pursue reforms.
"We are determined to continue the negotiations with the EU," the Turkish president said at a news conference with his Portuguese counterpart.