Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that Turkey showed that secularism, democracy and Islam could exist together.

In an exclusive interview with Spain's El Pais newspaper, Erdogan said Turkey's priority was full membership to European Union (EU). "Today, Turkey's main trade partner is the EU. I mean integration will serve enlargement of EU's internal market and facilitate EU's opening to a broader region," he added.

Erdogan said reforms made rooted changes in Turkish people, "one of the targets of the Alliance of Civilizations Initiative was to encourage tolerance and solidarity in the world. Turkey's accession to the EU will facilitate boosting of mutual values and mutual understanding, elimination of polarization and establishment of intercultural dialogues," Erdogan said.

Erdogan said he believed Turkey would help formation of a strong democracy, a healthy economy, create security and stability in its region.

"Turkey tries to encourage regional and economic cooperation and joins humanitarian assistance activities and peace missions. Turkish diplomacy tries assist solution of clashes," Erdogan said.

Responding to a question about Iraq, Erdogan said Turkey wants restoration of security and stability in Iraq.

Erdogan also said Turkey would continue to work actively with everybody to ensure peace, stability and security in the Middle East.

AA