We expect EU to appreciate Turkey’s recent achievements

Holding a press conference at Ataturk Airport, Baykal said Socialist International was the most effective and respectable international institution after the UN, adding they had a chance to reflect Turkey’s approach on recent events in the world during the meeting.

Upon on a question concerning how Turkey’s Iraq policy was perceived abroad, Baykal said people’s positive perception after Parliament rejected sending troops to Iraq was highly interrupted after its approval of the second motion allowing troop deployment in Iraq.

Baykal replying to a question on the EU progress report said, "All of us expect the EU to appreciate and emphasize Turkey’s recent achievements. We are aware that the reforms have not yet been properly implemented. However a negative report that would harm Turkey-EU relations will cause serious disappointment in the country. Therefore I think such a thing is not likely to happen."

The EU will issue a progress report on Nov. 5 on reforms undertaken by Turkey to meet the EU’s membership criteria.

The report will be a key indicator of whether Turkey is ready to realize its target of opening membership talks by the beginning of 2005.

The report is expected to underline Turkey’s deficiencies in implementing the reforms.

Baykal also noted he was very happy for being elected vice- chairman in the organisation’s general assembly, saying the fact that CHP’s policies have become more and more respected in the social democrat arena in the world was an element for his being elected for the post.