EU Commissioner Verheugen Calls Gul
When asked if he received any message from Europe regarding the seventh adjustment package, Gul stated that ”there can’t be more positive atmosphere than this in Europe regarding the adoption of the package.” Gul stated that they heard about positive repercussions from Europe, adding that ”recently Verheugen called me on the phone and he openly told his admiration.”
Gul stated that he told Verheugen that the steps taken and the practice was also important, adding that he conveyed the determination of the Turkish government in that regard.
Noting that the government was aware of the fact that 2004 was a critical year for starting the negotiations with EU, Gul stated that ”we are very resolved to fulfill all the conditions.”
Gul stated that coalition and opposition parties worked together in this framework, adding that ”important things take place in Turkey and it is pleasing to have positive repercussion to them.”
When asked what kind of effect this positive atmosphere could have on the solution of Cyprus issue, Gul stated that ”there are certainly difficulties, we don’t walk on a paved road. But we walk on for solving the problems by building the roads.”
Referring to the importance of Cyprus issue, Gul stated that studies and preparations were undertaken about this issue and that Cyprus was not one of the EU criteria to be fulfilled on its own. The condition of starting negotiations is to fulfill the Copenhagen political criteria, he stressed.
”Do you wait for the results of Higher Military Council to start negotiations with the U.S. regarding the issue of sending soldiers to Iraq?” asked journalists to Gul who said that ”we continue our studies. The Higher Military Council takes important decisions within itself at the moment. But this does not mean that the things don’t work. I had earlier said that this was not an issue to be sorted out in one or two days.”
Upon a question asking if an intelligence study would be undertaken in Iraq prior to sending soldiers, Gul didn’t give a clear response saying that the things would be undertaken according to the known methods.
