Holding a joint press conference with Chancellor Nehammer of Austria, President Erdoğan said: “We exchanged views on the Türkiye-European Union relations during our meeting with Mr. Chancellor. The integration of Europe will have been completed only after Türkiye’s full membership to the Union. I particularly underscored, at this point, that we will accept no alternative to the full membership.”     President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Chancellor Karl Nehammer of Austria held a join press conference following their meeting at the Presidential Complex. Drawing attention to the historic nature of the visit taking place at the Chancellor level after 22 years, President Erdoğan said: “The sincere dialogue we have forged with President Alexander Van der Bellen of Austria and Mr. Chancellor has indeed paved the way for a new page in the Türkiye-Austria relations. We share a joint will to strengthen our relations. Accordingly, we stressed during our meeting that high-level visits should continue.” “WE WILL ACCEPT NO ALTERNATIVE TO THE FULL MEMBERSHIP” Pointing to the deep-rooted history of the Türkiye-Austria relations, President Erdoğan said: “Next year, we will mark the 100th anniversary of the Türkiye-Austria Friendship Agreement and the 60th anniversary of the Labor Recruitment Agreement. We will jointly carry out the necessary works to duly observe these anniversaries.” President Erdoğan stated: “During our meeting with Mr. Chancellor, we also exchanged views on the Türkiye-European Union relations. It is already well known that we are sincere as regards the improvement of our ties with the European Union, and that we have reaffirmed our country’s will in this respect. We, however, cannot see the same attitude from the European Union side. The integration of Europe will have been completed only after Türkiye’s full membership to the Union. I particularly underscored, at this point, that we will accept no alternative to the full membership.” “IT IS NECESSARY TO ESTABLISH AN INDEPENDENT PALESTINIAN STATE, WITH EAST AL-QUDS AS ITS CAPITAL” Noting that the recent developments in the Middle East as well as the Russia-Ukraine war were on the agenda during their meeting, President Erdoğan said: “A permanent peace can be achieved in the Middle East only if an ultimate solution is found to the Palestine-Israel issue. It is necessary to establish an independent and geographically-integrated Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with east al-Quds as its capital. So long as we are late in doing so, our region will not be able to get rid of the spiral of conflicts, bloodshed and tears. Any step that may escalate tension, cause more bloodshed, and exacerbate the problems in the region must be avoided.”