The PM welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations with Turkey over membership of the EU, saying it was:
"an historic event, it shows that those who believe there is some fundamental clash of civilisations between Christian and Muslim are actually wrong, that we can work together, that we can cooperate together, and I think that is of fundamental importance for the future peace and prosperity of my country, Britain, and of the wider world."
Read a transcript of his interview below
Prime Minister:
First of all can I just say a few words to you. I would like to congratulate the Dutch Presidency for the way that they have handled this negotiation, it has obviously been extremely difficult, but immensely important and I am pleased that it has come to a successful conclusion. The fact that Europe can welcome in Turkey and begin the process of negotiation for them to become a full member of the European Union is an historic event, it shows that those who believe there is some fundamental clash of civilisations between Christian and Muslim are actually wrong, that we can work together, that we can cooperate together, and I think that is of fundamental importance for the future peace and prosperity of my country, Britain, and of the wider world. Of course this is going to be a long negotiation. I think everyone accepts it will be at least a decade before this membership comes about. There are also, once that happens, transitional safeguards that are there on some of the difficult issues that arise in any accession, but it is an immensely significant day I think for Europe. And I would also congratulate the Turkish government as well in the leadership that they have shown in making changes in their country. Of course there are various issues that are going to be resolved prior to the negotiations actually opening, which we have set a date now of 3 October. There is the indication by the Turkish government of their readiness to sign the Ankara Agreement, that is important. Of course that doesn’t amount to a formal legal recognition by Turkey of Cyprus, but nonetheless I think there is a real sense of people wanting to work together and come together and that is important too.
So we always said that Turkey would be treated the same as every other country, that it would be the Copenhagen criteria that applied to Turkey. On the basis of their fulfilling those criteria we can begin the process of accession and the negotiation that leads to it, and even though this is obviously over a significant time frame, I still think it is very important and I think it is a good day for Europe, for Turkey, for the wider world.
Question
What do you say to the people across Europe who feel very concerned about Turkey joining the European Union?
Prime Minister:
I think everyone is sensitive to those concerns and it is why when you open the way to Turkey becoming a member of the European Union, that is the start of the process, and then there is a lot of negotiation that has to happen and it stretches over many years, obviously. But the important thing is that we are stating as a fundamental principle that the fact that Turkey is a Muslim country does not mean it should be barred from the European Union; on the contrary, if it fulfils the same principles of democracy and human rights then Muslim and Christian can work together, and that is a very, very important signal right across the world at the moment, and particularly important I think in the light of events of recent years. And I think this will increase the security and prosperity of Europe, of Turkey, of the wider world and region and that is why I think it is important. I think what we have done is we have opened the way for that accession to happen for Turkey, that is very important. Of course the criteria have to be fulfilled, but now we have actually set a date for the opening of negotiation, that will happen under the British Presidency of the European Union, and that is important. And it is a very historic day I think for Turkey, for Europe, for the wider world, and it shows that those who argued that there was some clash of civilisations, that Muslim and Christian countries can’t work together have been shown to be wrong.
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