'Turkey has no imperialist ambitions'

Turkey’s justice minister comments at conference organized by Union of European Turkish Democrats in Denmark

By Erbil Basay

COPENHAGEN (AA) - Turkey brings peace and safety to all environments without harboring any imperialist ambitions, Turkey’s Justice Minister said Wednesday.

Speaking at a conference organized by the Union of European Turkish Democrats (UETD) in Denmark's capital Copenhagen, Abdulhamit Gul said that in the last 15 years, Turkey had become a self-confident leading nation both globally and regionally in terms of its economy, politics and foreign policy.

Gul criticized Western countries' view of Turkey as "a good market" which was "breathing but not leading".

"Turkey should not die but should also not develop. That was the approach [to Turkey]. Let Turkey lie down on the bed as a ‘sick man'. Use it as a market. Let it breathe without allowing it to stand up to lead," Gul said, adding that Turkey's recent growth disturbed those same countries.

"Turkey's embracing friendly discourse, its powerful language will echo all around the world."

Gul said Turkey never has imperialist ambitions "wherever we are".

"We only bring peace and safety to all environments."

Kaynak: