"Negotiations would start soon if Turkey fulfills criteria"

ISTANBUL (AA) – German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said on Monday that the European Union (EU) membership negotiations should start immediately in case Turkey would fulfill the policies that were determined in Copenhagen Summit in the end of this year.

Making a speech at German-Turkish Economy Forum, Schroeder said that EU would have ten new members on May 1 and added that Turkey had been exerting efforts to be a member of EU for a long period of time.

Recalling that the timetable on the issue was set by EU heads of states and governments in December 2002, Schroeder said that in case Turkey would fulfill the policies that were determined in Copenhagen Summit by the end of this year, then membership negotiations should start immediately. He added that Germany had to behave justly to a country which had been a friend of Germany.

Noting that there were various discussions within EU on the issue and those discussions were very natural, Schroeder said that however those discussions and different views would not change the promise that Germany had given to Turkey.

Schroeder said that Turkey knew what the criteria were and it was on the path to fulfill them. He added that the other countries were also asked to fulfill the same criteria and they should not demand more than fulfilling these criteria from Turkey.

Regarding Turkey’s EU membership process, Schroeder said that they hoped that reforms would not remain on paper and Turkey would put them into practice in 2004.

Schroeder said that he had no doubt that this path would and should have to carry Turkey to EU, but he was aware that this path necessitated long efforts and overcoming big problems.

Schroeder said that Turkey and Germany should have a close cooperation on the issue of modernization and democratization in Near and Middle East.
Regarding Cyprus issue, Schroeder said that this issue has been distressing everybody and especially people in Cyprus for years and added that they finally had a foreseable future on the issue.

Noting that he would like to say that this situation was related especially with personal influence of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Schroeder said that he hoped that reunification of Cyprus would happen before the enlargement of the EU.

PM ERDOGAN: VISION OF EUROPE FOR FUTURE WILL BE FULFILLED WITH THE ACCESSION OF TURKEY TO EU

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that vision of Europe for future, which would be effective on global level, contribute especially to peace and stability in sensitive regions of the world and which would present an adjustment model among different culture and religions, would be fulfilled with Turkey’s accession to the European Union (EU).

Making a speech at Turkish-German Forum, Erdogan said that Germany had provided Turkey with serious support on the path to EU membership after Helsinki Summit.

Erdogan said, "what is this step? Regardless of any condition, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will be one step ahead and we, as Turkey and a guarantor country, are continuously making this suggestion. We are exerting efforts to complete this before May 1. This problem should end. We think that this problem should be eliminated."

Noting that Turkish entrepreneurs in Germany and German entrepreneurs in Turkey should be encouraged to establish active strategical partnerships in both countries and third countries, Erdogan said that efforts to further develop economic and commercial relations would have important reflections.

Erdogan said, "I believe we will carry this cooperation to future with solidarity together. This world is enough for all of us. All that is needed is peace, love and brotherhood."