“In a major foreign policy speech pronounced on Monday (26 October), UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband called for Turkey's full membership of the EU, provided that the candidate country satisfies human rights standards and addresses the role of the military and the separation of powers,” EuroActiv website informs Oct. 27.

In his speech at the London International Institute for Strategic Studies, Miliband said “being European is about values, not race or religion, and therefore having a Muslim country with a secular public realm can only strengthen the Union,” source says.

In addition, he specified the advantages of Turkey joining EU, emphasizing its role “as an important transit country for securing Europe's energy supply, as well as for tackling drugs and international criminal routes,” the source reads.