YEREVAN. – President of Bundestag is skeptical about idea of Turkey’s membership to the European Union.

“I am personally very skeptical whether this aim will be reached and should be reached,” he said during the meeting with professors and students of the Yerevan State University.

Although there are several reasons, Norbert Lammert pointed out two important aspects. The first is if Turkey becomes an EU member, it in practical terms would mean that the EU is open to about 15 states.

“I cannot identify any serious reason why and how we could refuse application of more than a dozen states in the region not belonging to the Union, if Turkey becomes an EU state,” he said, adding that EU “should better avoid such decision.”

The second point is a principle question whether it is a wise idea or a risky idea to organize a union with countries belonging to different cultures.

“I have great respect for the great cultures of the world, and precisely why I have respect and because I have this great respect, I have no illusion on the impact of these cultures,” he emphasized.

EU is a historically unique system based on common self-understanding and common values. Norbert Lammert is skeptical whether development of the Union can be a stable process with additional complication of integrating not only more states, but more cultural traditions and values.