Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr A. Gasymova / The victory of the governing Justice and Development Party in the Turkish parliamentary elections will not precipitate Turkey's entrance into the European Union (EU). "The victory of the Recep Tayip Erdogan's party or any other party in the parliamentary elections will not affect Turkey's chances to join the EU," stated the editor of the International Policy Department of the Kommersant newspaper, politician Azer Mursaliyev.
85% of the votes of early parliamentary elections held in Turkey on 22 July proved that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) headed by the acting Prime Minister Tayip Erdogan, received 331 (total of 550) seats in the parliament. The Prime Minister stated that his Government would continue the course on reforms and joining the EU. "We will still selflessly head for our goal which is integration to the EU," he stated to his party members and electors during the celebrations in their headquarters.
Mursaliyev stated on the telephone from Moscow on 23 July that Turkey joining the EU did not depend whether it is ready or not ready, but on the unprepared ness and unwillingness of the EU to admit Turkey, a Muslim country with a population of 80 mln people. "If Turkey was weaker, or its population was less in number, or if its economy was at a similar level to Bulgaria or Greece, then Turkey would be admitted," he said. Europe prefers such countries as France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Turkey joining the EU will mean large problems for them. According to him, Turkey joining the EU means a serious rivalry for those countries and ousting them from their leading positions. "For this reason neither of those countries will ever agree on Turkey joining the EU," the politician added.