Cicek: Turkey Becoming World Country

Both the Islamic countries’ Foreign Ministers’ meeting and another meeting where ministers of the more than 30 countries known as the Organization of Economic Corporation and Development (OECD) will participate will be held in Turkey. No former government has achieved these things. These summits and meetings are a chance to bring Turkey to the status of a world country. The year 2004 is a watershed year for Turkey."

Emphasizing that another important decision for Turkey will be in the way to European Union (EU) Cicek continued: "Our government is doing its best to achieve our target of accession to the EU. There are countries that want us in the EU and there are those that do not. However, we hope that a date for negotiation will be set with the EU on December 2004. If not, then all will know that the EU has double standards and discriminates, because all countries enter the EU by fulfilling the given criteria. EU authorities report that Turkey is rapidly and unsurprisingly fulfilling its responsibilities."