(zaman) Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the European Union that pushing Turkey away from the negotiation table would be a grave mistake and loss for Europe.
The Turkish premier made his remarks on Tuesday as he addressed the parliamentary group meeting of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
Erdogan said that Turkey was entering a critical period in the EU talks process and recalled that the European Union was preparing for next Monday's foreign ministerial meeting, reports Trend.
Erdogan noted that the bloc needed Turkey as much as Turkey needed it, adding that Turkey was not only European, but the energetic member of Europe as well.
Saying that he had called German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the morning, Erdogan stated that he explained her about what the consequences of a single wrong step might be.
European Union membership is part of a global vision. It is the most important project of the 21st century," he said.
"It is an issue that cannot be sacrificed to small calculations and trivial issues. To distance Turkey from the negotiating table would be a grave mistake. Turkey has nothing to lose. If anyone will lose, it will be the EU."