Ankara to start its EU offensive

PM Erdogan and FM Gul will hold a string of visits to EU member countries next week in order to present the governments with what Turkey had accomplished in recent months.

First stage destinations are Germany, Austria and EU-term President Italy, where the government will try to show that it is committed to continue its reform program and wants Turkey’s EU membership negotiations to start as soon as possible.

Erdogan will meet German PM Gerhard Schroder, FM Joschka Fischer and CDU leader Angela Merkel in Germany and will attend a conference held by ”Ambrosetti” think-tank in Italy. He is also expected to meet Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi and the prime ministers of other attending EU member states attending the conference.

FM Gul will meet with Austrian PM Wolfgang Schüssel, Austria Parliament Speaker Andreas Khol and FM Benita Ferrero-Waldner early next week in Vienna and will attend the un-official EU countries foreign ministers meeting held in Italy.

Gul is also scheduled to visit France next week.

MECHANISM TO WATCH OVER POLICIES
EU General Secreteriat will brief European Commission on the sixth and seventh EU Harmonization Packages passed by Parliament in September.

Many EU delegations are expected to visit Turkey prior to the publication of 2003 report. Sources say that a mechanism that inspects how the laws implemented are used in practice will also be established.

Sources also say that they are hopeful of the report that will be published in November will be positive.