Berlusconi’s 2007 Date ‘Very Presumptuous’

Going to Brussels the other day to investigate the EU accession period, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gul met with Verheugen yesterday, who made a statement to journalists saying that he considered Berlusconi’s statement "rather interesting and a surprising opinion."

During a recent trip to Ankara, Berlusconi had said that the date for Turkey’s EU membership would be 2007.

Referring to the pronouncement by Berlusconi, who is leader of the country that will assume the rotating EU term presidency from Greece, Verheugen said, "It is necessary to examine and analyze Turkey’s candidacy; therefore, I find the prime minister’s 2007 date to be very presumptuous."

Following this comment, Gul said: "For us, the important thing is to start the negotiations. We will do our best; we will take into consideration any sort of suggestion. However, the first thing to be done is to start the negotiations." Approving of Gul’s words, Verheugen added, "We shouldn’t put the cart before the horse."

Selcuk Gultasli / Brussels / BELGIUM