Turkish minister: Luxembourg decorates with royal medal while Chancellor objects us

Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan has said, "World should understand the message behind Luxembourg's decorating Turkey's economy minister with state medal while Merkel is making statements of objection to Turkey." Speaking to journalists in Luxembourg, Caglayan referred to German Chancellor Angela Merkel's objection to Turkey's EU membership, and said, "No prime minister has such right. Such statements aim at decreasing the already lowered support to EU membership in our public." He added, Turkey's membership was primarily in European countries' interest. Reminding that Luxembourg would decorate him with royal medal, Caglayan said, he expected Europe to get the message as well. "EU membership is not sine qua non for us but we will keep on working for full membership. We are ready to open all the chapters," said Caglayan. About the increase in exchange rates, Caglayan said it was all about world economy, nothing to do with Turkey, emphasizing that there was neither change in economic targets nor negative development in Turkey's economy.