BERLIN
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle has called for a fresh momentum to the stalled membership talks between Turkey and the European Union.
"For more than two years, no new chapter has been opened in the European Union accession talks. This standstill is not good. It is bad for both sides, and next year we want to make a new beginning to overcome this standstill," Westerwelle told a ceremony held on Tuesday for the inauguration of the new building of the Turkish Embassy in Berlin.
Westerwelle said Ankara, Berlin and Brussels "needed to remain close" in foreign policy issues, adding that Turkey and the EU were close partners regarding the Arab revolutions.
The German foreign minister also praised "Turkey's achievements over the past 10 years," saying the county had become a regional power with a growing economy which he described as one of the strongest economies in Europe.
"Turkey, through its modernization policy, has shown that Islam and democracy can live together. In this respect, Turkey is source of inspiration for millions of people and beyond," he said.
Westerwelle said Germany was Turkey's most important trade partner, adding that nearly 3 million people of Turkish origin lived in Germany.
"Most of them are German citizens. They enrich our culture and they are an integral part of our society. They are a part of us," he said.
Westerwelle also said Germany would not tolerate extremism, intolerance, or xenophobia, adding, "Xenophobia against people of Turkish origin or international guests of other nationalities works against us all. This is not culture, this 'un-culture' against which we stand up together."
