SKOPJE
Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek said on Friday that Turkey had many doors to open even if the European Union (EU) door was closed.
A door may get closed while one thousand others may be opened. Turkey has many doors other than the EU door. It is meaningless to be locked on a certain place, Cicek stressed.
Cicek visited the International Balkan University in Skopje on Friday.
Speaking to students at the university, Cicek said that they wanted to make changes in the Turkish Constitution by the end of 2012.
On Syria, Cicek said that it was Turkey's wish to see an end to the (violent) process in Syria and the beginning of a new period in which the legitimate demands of the Syrian people were met.
Rich and strong Turkey and Balkans, assurance of world peace
Cicek said on Friday that a rich and strong Turkey and Balkans were the assurance of world peace.
Cemil Cicek attended the "16th Turkish world award ceremony" organized by the Foundation of Turkish World Writers and Artists (TURKSAV) and held at the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts in Skopje on Friday.
Speaking at the ceremony, Cicek said that ceremonies as today's provide an opportunity to get together with thinkers, writers and all other individuals who make contributions to the world of culture.
The history of the Turkish nation was written on a large geography. Our cultural map has a very rich story. During our historic journey from Asia to Anatolia and from there to Europe, we had contacts with various ethnic groups, cultures and civilizations. It is possible to see the effects of such contacts on our language, carpets and architectural objects. Starting from Skopje, it is possible to see such effects in all corners of the Balkans, Cicek stressed.
The traces of our 600 years of togetherness still live here in Skopje. Regardless of language, religion, culture or ethnic origins, we consider the soil of Balkans as close as those of Anatolia. Our relations with the Balkans is not a geographic one but rather one based on kinship and relatives, Cicek noted.
We do not consider the Balkans as separate from the Turkic world, Cicek underlined.
Cicek congratulated all those given awards on Friday and personally presented several awards to recipients at the ceremony.
