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Anadolu Agency
Sept 23 2004
Commenting On Turkey's E.U. Membership, Solana: Last Minutes Always
Pass In Difficulty
NEW YORK - ''We have reached the most important and critical minutes.
Utmost care should be shown in the last minutes. Last minutes always
pass in difficulty,'' Javier Solana, the high Representative of the
European Union (EU) for common foreign and security policy said on
Thursday while commenting on Turkey's EU membership process.
Solana and Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul met late on Wednesday in the UN Headquarters in New
York.
Speaking at the meeting, Solana said he has heard very positive
developments from the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter
Verheugen regarding Turkey's reforms.
Solana told reporters after the meeting that, ''we had a fruitful
meeting with my friend Gul. We exchanged views on all important
issues happening in the world, as well as Turkey-EU relations. We
also discussed results of the meeting of the quartet seeking to find
a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian problem.''
Gul, who replied to the questions pointed out that they also
discussed Turkish Penal Code (TCK). ''Everything that has been done
for EU membership has been reviewed,'' Gul said, noting that,
''Solana said everybody expected a positive result.''
Gul said, ''fulfillment of EU's commitments regarding Cyprus was also
on the table,'' and noted that Solana told him however that ''EU is
now focussed on the start of full membership negotiations (with
Turkey). Let us reach this target. The latter (the Cyprus question)
can be discussed afterwards.''
-CYPRUS-
Diplomatic sources said Gul briefed Solana about Cyprus. Gul stressed
that, ''Turkish Cypriots wait for their isolation to end and
embargoes be removed. They wait for the related regulations to be
issued and enacted soon.''
Solana, in reply, told Gul, ''you are right. Efforts are underway on
this issue. But give us time.''
Solana also asked Gul Turkey's views on Iraq, and the parties
exchanged views on this issue.
Gul also mentioned his meeting with Israeli and Palestinian ministers
and stated that Turkey could help to solve Middle East problem.
Solana said, ''there has been several problems on Middle East Road
Map. We should take serious steps. I think the efforts will be
accelerated following (presidential) elections in the United
States.''
Asked about his meeting with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari,
Gul said, ''Turkey is ready to expand its support to Iraqi people. We
consider the elections as very important. Iraqi people should make
its own decisions and elect its representatives. I told Zebari that
Turkey would extend every kind of aid in this respect.''
-GUL-PETERSEN MEETING-
Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen, who met Gul Wednesday in the
afternoon, asked Turkey's views on Iraq.
When Petersen asked for information about the Caucasus, Gul said
Turkey has close relations with Caucasian countries and briefed him
about the oil and natural gas pipelines.
On relations with Armenia, Gul said ''20 percent of Azerbaijani
territory was actually under Armenian occupation'', stressing that
''normalization of relations among Armenia, Turkey and Azerbaijan
would not be possible unless Yerevan government makes a step''.
Gul underlined that Turkey's position would also change pertaining to
Azerbaijani-Armenian relations in case Armenia makes a step.
Gul gave informed Petersen about Cyprus and asked for Norway's
support regarding Turkey's UN Security Council membership candidacy.
Sept 23 2004
Commenting On Turkey's E.U. Membership, Solana: Last Minutes Always
Pass In Difficulty
NEW YORK - ''We have reached the most important and critical minutes.
Utmost care should be shown in the last minutes. Last minutes always
pass in difficulty,'' Javier Solana, the high Representative of the
European Union (EU) for common foreign and security policy said on
Thursday while commenting on Turkey's EU membership process.
Solana and Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul met late on Wednesday in the UN Headquarters in New
York.
Speaking at the meeting, Solana said he has heard very positive
developments from the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter
Verheugen regarding Turkey's reforms.
Solana told reporters after the meeting that, ''we had a fruitful
meeting with my friend Gul. We exchanged views on all important
issues happening in the world, as well as Turkey-EU relations. We
also discussed results of the meeting of the quartet seeking to find
a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian problem.''
Gul, who replied to the questions pointed out that they also
discussed Turkish Penal Code (TCK). ''Everything that has been done
for EU membership has been reviewed,'' Gul said, noting that,
''Solana said everybody expected a positive result.''
Gul said, ''fulfillment of EU's commitments regarding Cyprus was also
on the table,'' and noted that Solana told him however that ''EU is
now focussed on the start of full membership negotiations (with
Turkey). Let us reach this target. The latter (the Cyprus question)
can be discussed afterwards.''
-CYPRUS-
Diplomatic sources said Gul briefed Solana about Cyprus. Gul stressed
that, ''Turkish Cypriots wait for their isolation to end and
embargoes be removed. They wait for the related regulations to be
issued and enacted soon.''
Solana, in reply, told Gul, ''you are right. Efforts are underway on
this issue. But give us time.''
Solana also asked Gul Turkey's views on Iraq, and the parties
exchanged views on this issue.
Gul also mentioned his meeting with Israeli and Palestinian ministers
and stated that Turkey could help to solve Middle East problem.
Solana said, ''there has been several problems on Middle East Road
Map. We should take serious steps. I think the efforts will be
accelerated following (presidential) elections in the United
States.''
Asked about his meeting with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari,
Gul said, ''Turkey is ready to expand its support to Iraqi people. We
consider the elections as very important. Iraqi people should make
its own decisions and elect its representatives. I told Zebari that
Turkey would extend every kind of aid in this respect.''
-GUL-PETERSEN MEETING-
Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen, who met Gul Wednesday in the
afternoon, asked Turkey's views on Iraq.
When Petersen asked for information about the Caucasus, Gul said
Turkey has close relations with Caucasian countries and briefed him
about the oil and natural gas pipelines.
On relations with Armenia, Gul said ''20 percent of Azerbaijani
territory was actually under Armenian occupation'', stressing that
''normalization of relations among Armenia, Turkey and Azerbaijan
would not be possible unless Yerevan government makes a step''.
Gul underlined that Turkey's position would also change pertaining to
Azerbaijani-Armenian relations in case Armenia makes a step.
Gul gave informed Petersen about Cyprus and asked for Norway's
support regarding Turkey's UN Security Council membership candidacy.