Looking out from his presidential palace, high on a hilltop above the Turkish capital, President Abdullah Gul can see trouble at the farthest gates of his nation.
In the south, Syria's bloody uprising grows more violent by the day, while to the east Iran continues its dangerous nuclear dance, frustrating and frightening world leaders. In the west, Greece is struggling to keep its entire economy from collapsing.
And yet Mr Gul believes that, despite being in the middle of such drama, this is Turkey's moment.
"We are between Asia and Europe – we are like a bridge," he said. "Some of us are in Asia, some in Europe. We are at the very centre of both sides."
That the nation of 79 million is a strong, integral part of Europe – and should be accepted as a member of the EU - is Mr Gul's mantra. The Turkish president will be in London this week on a three-day state visit, staying at Buckingham Palace as a guest of the Queen - and the affable, British-educated president will certainly not lose the opportunity to emphasise Turkey's potential to contribute to the EU club.
"Turkey is a natural part of Europe," he told The Sunday Telegraph in the elegant, cream marble surroundings of his Ankara palace.
"Being a member of the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights; being one of the oldest members of Nato, as well as being part of European culture and art - this is a natural path Turkey is flowing into." » | Harriet Alexander in Ankara | Saturday, November 19, 2011
