Clinton said that "Turkey should do its best for the EU." Stating that the benefits of Turkey's EU membership would be greater than the difficulties experienced during the process of fulfilling the necessary criteria.Your success is very important to us." Former US President Bill Clinton, invited to Turkey by TABA, gives advice regarding the problems on Turkey's agenda. 

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, who gave a speech at a recent Turkish-American Businessmen's Association (TABA) meeting, talked about the issues on Turkey's agenda. Giving advice on solving these problems, Clinton focused mainly on Turkish-European Union relations. Defending the idea that the death penalty should be lifted and the problem of ethnic minorities should be solved, Clinton said "Turkey should do its best for the EU." Stating that the benefits of Turkey's EU membership would be greater than the difficulties experienced during the process of fulfilling the necessary criteria, Clinton added: 

“Turkey should continue to solve the problems for the EU before the Copenhagen summit. Countries are becoming integrated with each other; the EU will need the Turkish army. Turkey should become part of the EU. I will continue to do my best for the success of the EU process." 

Clinton boosts Turkey's morale 

Clinton also conveyed his views about Turkey's domestic politics. Consoling his audience and making them laugh, Clinton said: "Don't worry about the current political problems. Having the oldest democracy in the world, we were not be able to count the votes in Florida. I believe that Turkey will overcome 

Turkish-EU relations 

Clinton said that Turkish-U.S. relations were very strong and could bear everything. Defending the view that relations between the two countries would be stronger after Turkey became a member of the EU, Clinton said: "Our 50-year alliance and friendship has helped us to overcome all difficulties. Turkey is a very important country in terms of the United States' future. 

Clinton said that he had met with a number of people in the two countries and had determined that the common idea was to leave the difficulties on Cyprus in the past. Stating that solving the Cyprus problem would make things easier, Clinton said he believed that Turkey and Greece would determine the future of the next 20 years in the southeast and Europe. 

Clinton had a surprise visitor during his meeting at Ciragan Palace: baby Erkan, who had squeezed his nose during a previous visit. Clinton, who posed with the baby, said "I could not forget baby Erkan, whom I met during my visit in November 1999.1 keep our photograph in my office in New York." 

After talking with businessmen and young people, Clinton spent the night at Ciragan Palace. Clinton, who was guarded under tight security while in Turkey, left yesterday morning for Spain. His convoy was followed to Ataturk airport by a police helicopter.