Representing the Justice and Development Party (AKP), Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul joined the annual congress of the European Christian Democrat Parties (EPP) in Brussels. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan was foreseen to attend the congress of this organization, which approaches to Turkey’s membership to EU, negatively.

However, according to French Le Figaro daily, as Germans objected to include Erdogan in the family picture, they demanded that Gul, who has lesser influence in politics, should attend the congress. Speaking in the congress, Gul gave the message that “Turkey is within the European civilization.”