ANKARA - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday that they came from a tradition which had tolerance in its past, and which respected all religions and beliefs.
''We have a past which didn't have the tendency of assimilation,'' said Gul.
Addressing the extraordinary meeting of Prime Ministry Human Rights Consultation Board, Gul said that he believed the EU would start negotiations with Turkey not later than the end of 2004.
Gul said that there was a positive atmosphere between Turkey and the EU, adding ''we must benefit from that in the best way, but this should not be interpreted as if Turkey would automatically start negotiations with EU.'' Gul said that Turkey didn't discriminate against any country.
Gul said that Copenhagen criteria which Turkey had to abide was not unfamiliar to Turkey, adding that ''we are coming from a tradition which respects all religions and beliefs. Churches and mosques, synagogues were constructed in the same period in which persons exercised their beliefs freely.'' Gul stressed that fulfillment of many of the Copenhagen criteria was completed, adding that all of those studies were undertaken as Turkish people deserved that. Gul said that the new reform package would be transferred to the parliament next weeks.
(ÖS-AY) 09.05.2003