Stockholm, Sept 5, SPA - Turkey will strengthen the European Union evenif the road to future membership in the bloc is "long and stony,"DPA quoted Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu as saying Saturday. The country is undergoing a "silent revolution" and carryingthrough reforms that "were unthinkable just a few years ago," hewrote in an op-ed article in the Stockholm daily Dagens Nyheter. Turkey aimed to become one of the world's 10 largest economies andbecome "indispensable" for the EU's economic force, he said. The Turkish foreign minister was Saturday to take part at aninformal meeting of EU foreign ministers hosted by Sweden, thecurrent holder of the rotating EU presidency. Davutoglu said Turkey was continuing to fulfill its obligationsunder the so-called Copenhagen criteria, which call for stabledemocratic institutions, respect for human rights and protection ofminorities. "Just as we are preparing the ground for membership, the EU has tokeep to its side of the bargain," he said. "First and foremost theunion has to show the necessary leadership to inform public opinionagainst the disinformation concerning Turkey's membership," he said. "Negative voices that we still hear from certain countries in theEU just spread discontent among our citizens and hamper our effortsto continue our reforms," Davutoglu said. Germany and France have been among the most outspoken opponents offull-fledged EU membership for Turkey. But Davutoglu said his country had found a strong supporter inSweden, which has an influential voice as the bloc's current chair. "Sweden realizes, as we do, that Europe can never be a strongcohesive unity as long as Turkey remains outside the EU," the foreignminister said.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/698010