Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed his government's determination to contribute to regional and global peace in a televised address to the nation.
"We are determined to maintain our efforts to restore peace in our region and the world...International public opinion knows and appreciates Turkey's role in the preparation of the ground for a dialogue to end clashes in the Middle East and to assure sustainable peace," he said, citing Turkey's recent mediation initiatives between Syria and Israel as an example.
Erdogan saw Turkey's European Union (EU) membership bid as an important means to contribute to the rapprochement between civilizations.
"We are standing firm against some unjust behaviours we face, convey our objections to our adversaries and continue to do what it takes on the road to membership," Erdogan said.
On June 17, the EU opened two more of the 35 policy areas for accession talks with Turkey, in addition to eight policy areas opened since the start of Turkey's accession negotiations with the EU in October 2005. One of the eight has been provisionally closed.
For candidate countries to win EU membership, they have to bring their policies in line with EU ones in 35 chapters dealing with issues such as free movement of goods, financial services, energy and foreign policy.
For Turkey, it would be a difficult job since a total of 18 areas were frozen due to Turkey's refusal to open its ports and airports to Cypriot ships and planes as well as separate opposition from France and Cyprus.