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ANKARA: Turks' Interest In EU Solid, Says FM

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  • ANKARA: Turks' Interest In EU Solid, Says FM

    TURKS' INTEREST IN EU SOLID, SAYS FM

    Hurriyet
    June 17 2009
    Turkey

    ISTANBUL - Turkey's interminable insistence on European Union
    membership is highlighted during a press conference held in Ankara
    between Turkish and German foreign ministers. In fact, it is one
    of the rare topics on which the ruling political party and the
    opposition agree

    Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said Turkey definitely
    has not lost interest in EU membership.

    In a joint press conference with his German counterpart Frank Walter
    Steinmeier in Berlin, Davutoglu said: "Turkey has not lost interest
    in EU membership. One of the rare topics on which both the ruling
    political party and the opposition agree on is the issue of Turkey's
    EU membership. Turkey's EU membership is a topic always discussed by
    the Turkish Cabinet. We are working on many issues regarding Turkey's
    EU membership."

    "We believe in Germany's support for Turkey's EU membership and thank
    Steinmeier for his support," Davutoglu said. "We are not considering
    any other alternative for Turkey but EU membership. Turkey is a
    crucial energy corridor."

    Touching on the Cyprus issue, Davutoglu said Turkey continues to
    support negotiations between the Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali
    Talat and the leader of the Greek Cypriot administration, Demetris
    Christofias.

    "We hope that a lasting solution is established in Cyprus based on
    peace and welfare. As you know, we had reached such a solution in
    2004. The Greek Cypriot side rejected such a solution and assumed an
    attitude that has caused today's problems," Davutoglu said. "We hope
    that the Greek Cypriot administration leaves such an attitude and can
    jointly make the eastern Mediterranean a region of peace. We also hope
    that the issue of Cyprus will be eliminated from being an obstacle
    [in Turkey's EU process]."

    "We discussed with Steinmeier the developments in Iran and the
    Caucasus," Davutoglu said. "We thank Germany for its efforts in
    bringing Azerbaijan and Armenia closer to each other."

    "There are common interests between Turkey and Germany, and there are
    not any disagreements between Turkey and Germany. Our countries have
    deep-rooted relations. Germany is Turkey's No. 1 trade partner. We
    decided on establishing working groups to develop the strategic
    dialogue between Turkey and Germany," Davutoglu said.

    "Bilateral relations should be placed on a stronger base, and we
    need a strong cultural base. Accordingly, we will speed up efforts
    for a Turkish-German university to be established in Istanbul,"
    Davutoglu noted.

    Respectable status

    "We will cooperate strongly with Germany so that the Turks living
    in Germany integrate into German society and reach the respectable
    status that they deserve. The Turkish community living in Germany is an
    important bridge between the two countries," Davutoglu said. Steinmeier
    said: "We discussed with Davutoglu the developments taking place in the
    Caucasus and Middle East. We also discussed bilateral relations. Many
    Turkish artists are known in Germany. We want to conclude efforts
    to establish the Turkish-German university in Istanbul," Steinmeier
    said. Touching on Turkey's EU membership, Steinmeier said the chapter
    on taxation would soon be opened to negotiations. "The EU negotiations
    are open-ended. Yet the goal of the negotiations is Turkey's full
    membership in the EU," Steinmeier said. Asked what he thinks about
    the European Court of Justice's ruling in February in regard to visa
    procedures for Turkish truck driver Mehmet Soysal, he said: "As every
    European country, we do respect the decision of the European Court
    of Justice. I believe interior ministers of our two countries will
    soon begin discussing the [visa] issue."

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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