Luxembourger FM says EU needs Turkey for global leverage

ANKARA (A.A) - Luxembourg's top diplomat voiced support Tuesday for Turkey's European Union bid, saying the 27-member bloc needed Ankara's accession to become a global player. "Europe is now a regional player but we need Turkey if we want a global role. Europe could become a global player together with Turkey," Jean Asselborn told a joint press appearance with his Turkish counterpart following a meeting in Ankara.  Asselborn said majority of the EU countries favored the continuation of Turkey's accession negotiations, adding that Europe needed Turkey's membership not only for political reasons but also for economic concerns. "Europe is not a fortress, and we need countries around us. Blockading Turkey's membership would be huge mistake for future generations both in Turkey and in Europe," he noted.