Turkey is part of West despite its religious diversity-former U.S. national security advisor

WASHINGTON (AA) - May 3, 2012 - Former U.S. Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski has said that despite its religious diversity, Turkey was a part of the West. It is necessary to be part of Europe for Turkey for its strategic and political reasons and so it is, highlighted Brzezinski on Thursday talking at the "Sakip Sabanci Conference" hosted by University of Sakip Sabanci and Brookings Institution in Washington.  Mentioning his latest book "Strategic Vision: America and the Crisis of Global Power", Brzezinski stated that 90 years ago transformation of Russia's tsardom into strict communist regime and Turkey's emperorship into the republican regime was an important social change in that period of time.  Noting that Turkey's transition was much more successful than Russia's, "Thereby, Turkey is a part of the West in contrast with its religious diversity. With its strategic position, great power and loyalty to NATO, Turkey is crucial for Europe's security," Brzezinski said. Turkey is one of the most significant members of NATO, said Brzezinski, adding that Turkey was a "model country" for Iran's development in coming period due to two counties' socioeconomic resemblance.  I appreciate the cooperation on security and political issues between the West and Turkey. This cooperation is beneficial for both sides, however Turkey's EU membership is not mandatory for cooperation, stated Brzezinski. Responding to a question, Brzezinski said that Turkey would be part of EU in the long run.  Brzezinski also said that Turkey and US had intimate relationship, so it was usual to have differences of opinion. Zbigniew Brzezinski who is a Polish American political scientist, geostrategist and statesman, served as national security advisor to former U.S. President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981.