ANKARA, Turkey – Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday he was disappointed by the failure of EU referendums but Turkey was determined to press forward with its efforts to join the bloc.

Erdogan, speaking in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press as he prepares for a meeting at the White House with President Bush, also said he expected EU countries to back Turkey's membership when the country completed its reforms.

In 10 to 15 years the EU "will be a place where civilizations meet ... It will become a global power with Turkey's accession," he said.

EU membership has been a Turkish dream for decades and many Turks who support membership are terrified that the Dutch and French votes earlier this week against a draft EU constitution will lead European leaders to reassess the role of the 25-nation bloc and its expansion plans.

Erdogan said Turkey was determined to press forward with EU-oriented reforms and brushed aside the question of whether accepting the huge, overwhelmingly Muslim country was becoming an issue in European countries.

"We are beyond the question of whether to be included or not," Erdogan said. "If we are successful in this, all member countries will show fairness toward us.

Turkey is scheduled to open entry talks with the EU on Oct. 3.