"We want to see problems are solved with Turkey’s accession"

BRUSSELS (AA) – European Parliament President Pat Cox has said that they wanted to see that some problems were resolved with Turkey’s accession to the European Union (EU).

Cox, who is scheduled to pay a three-day visit to Turkey next week as the guest of Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, met on Wednesday with Turkish press members.

Noting that he thought that it would be one of his most important visits during his term in office as the president of the European Parliament, Cox said that he would hold political meetings in Ankara, and meet with businessmen and students in Istanbul.

Cox reminded that he would visit northwestern province of Canakkale where his grandfather had fought during the World War I.

Stressing that they wanted to see that some problems were resolved with Turkey’s accession to the EU, Cox told Turkish journalists that there were some circles expressing their concerns about Turkey’s membership.

He said that similar circles also existed in Turkey opposing to the EU.

Highlighting importance of 2004 for both Turkey and the EU, Cox reminded that elections would be held for the European Parliament in the next period, the EU Commission would be changed, and the number of EU-member countries would increase to 25.

Cox said that Turkey’s candidacy would be evaluated under the same conditions with the other candidate countries, adding that special conditions would not be put forward for Turkey.

He expressed his hope that discussions at the European Parliament over Turkey would be balanced and fair.

Referring to the Cyprus issue, Cox said that they had been supporting efforts and initiatives of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Expressing their wish that the sides would abide by the schedule which was set during the talks in New York, the United States, Cox said that if Cyprus negotiations resulted in compromise and solution, Turkish language and culture would be included in the EU.

Stressing that finding a solution to the Cyprus issue was not a pre-condition for Turkey’s accession to the EU, Cox said that a solution, however, would change the atmosphere.

Reminding that he had given the same messages to both sides in Cyprus, Cox said that such an important opportunity entailed courage.

Noting that Cyprus would become a member of the EU anyway, Cox expressed his wish that Cyprus would become EU-member as a whole.

Pointing out that discussions over Turkey’s accession to the EU were inevitable, Cox said that such discussions could not be prevented in democracies.

He also highlighted importance of efforts to inform public opinions.