ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday, ''Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy and I have similar views about bilateral relations between our countries and about international and regional issues.''
Prime Minister Erdogan and his Italian counterpart Berlusconi came together at a luncheon following tete-a-tete and interdelegationary meetings.
After the luncheon at Ankara's Sheraton Hotel, Erdogan and Berlusconi held a joint press conference.
Speaking at the press conference, Prime Minister Erdogan expressed his pleasure with hosting Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi and accompanying delegation in Turkey.
Recalling that he had started a tour to the European Union (EU) countries by visiting Italy following the general elections on November 3, 2002, Erdogan said, ''our first step was Rome to accelerate Turkey's EU full membership process. It was a very meaningful visit to me. Today, Mr. Berlusconi is the first EU prime minister visiting me after I have become the prime minister of the 59th government of the Republic of Turkey.''
''During the tete-a-tete meeting and the luncheon, we exchanged views on many issues in a very beneficial atmosphere. Today, relations between Turkey and Italy have reached a very pleasing level. We assessed steps to be taken to further improve these relations in every field. As prime ministers of two Mediterranean countries, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy and I have similar views about bilateral relations between our countries and about international and regional issues.''
Positive relations between Turkey and Italy, which are located in the strategical points of European continent and Mediterranean, are century old, Erdogan said stating that, ''very serious steps have been taken in bilateral relations in the recent years. Particularly, economic and trade relations turned into a strategical cooperation. Italy, with a trade volume of 6.3 billion U.S. dollars, broke a record, and became the second biggest trade partner of Turkey in 2002. Italy made direct investment worth of 242 million U.S. dollars in 2002 and again became number one investor as it had happened in 2001.''
Erdogan said number of Italian companies in Turkey, which was 17 in 1988, today reached 238.
Stating that they reviewed Turkish-EU relations together with Berlusconi, Erdogan said they showed Turkey's determination in this respect, and that he was sure that Berlusconi's support to Turkey in this respect would continue.
Erdogan said he briefed Berlusconi about the reforms studies of Turkey, stating that, ''determined steps of the government regarded with Copenhagen criteria, about accession to EU, will continue.''
Erdogan said they exchanged views about Cyprus and Iraq, noting that they also discussed overcoming difficulties between Israel and Palestine in the Middle East.
Erdogan said he was pleased to see that most of the views were in parallel, adding that they expressed readiness of Turkey to make cooperation.
Erdogan said Turkish-Italian Business Council would host dinner in honor of Berlusconi on Monday evening, adding that thus they would discuss together with the private sector representatives further improvement of relations.
Speaking at the press conference, Berlusconi said that Turkey and Italy had had similar views about their bilateral relations and about relations between Turkey and the European Union (EU).
Noting that there had been friendly relations between Turkey and Italy for centuries, Berlusconi said that Italy had always supported Turkey's EU full membership process.
Recalling that Italy would take over EU term presidency in June, Prime Minister Berlusconi said that Italy would continue to support Turkey's EU process during its term presidency.
Berlusconi said that he would do his utmost to make Turkey's EU full membership plan more concrete.
Noting that they wanted Turkey to become a member of the EU in order to make dream of great Europe true, Berlusconi said that a great Europe could be possible with memberships of Turkey, Belarus and Russian Federation.
Berlusconi said challenging to existing order and putting signature on the important reforms required ''some madness''.
When asked whether or not an agreement could be reached on GSM operator Aria, Erdogan said they would continue to discuss the issue at dinner, and that they could make a statement there.
Responding to another question, Berlusconi said they were ready to contribute to reach a solution on Cyprus question till the end of 2004.
Berlusconi also said he was ready to go to Cyprus together with Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis in this respect.
Pointing out that Turkey's diplomatic capacity should be used in solution of Middle East problem, Berlusconi said he would benefit from Turkey's accumulation of information and experiences during Italy's term presidency.
Berlusconi said Turkey, which is the only Moslem and democratic country in the region, was a good model in rebuilding process of Iraq.
SEZER: EFFORTS OF ITALY AND BERLUSCONI DURING TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP PROCESS APPRECIATED
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said during his meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi that the efforts of Italy and Berlusconi during the EU membership process of Turkey were appreciated and Turkey expected these efforts to continue during the EU Term Presidency of Italy in the second half of 2003.
Presidential Press Centre said that President Sezer expressed his pleasure over the development of the relations between Turkey and Italy on a regular basis, during the meeting.
Sezer said in the meeting that the economic and commercial relations between the two countries could improve by increase of the investments of Italian firms in Turkey, and by increase of cooperation among small and medium scale enterprises.
Noting that solution to Cyprus problem could be found on the basis of the realities on the island, Sezer reminded that TRNC took a series of steps to overcome the crisis of trust between the two sides. Sezer said that the two leaders in Cyprus could continue to search for a solution in Cyprus by benefiting from this positive atmosphere, stressing the importance of lifting the embargo imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people.
Berlusconi said in his part that the level and progress of the relations between Turkey and Italy was pleasing, adding that economic and commercial cooperation could be further improved and the public opinion and private sector in Italy had great sympathy for Turkey. Berlusconi said that it would be better if efforts were launched to further promote Turkey in Italy, adding that Italy would continue to support Turkey during its EU Term Presidency.
Sezer and Berlusconi also exchanged views about the situation in Iraq, and that President Sezer invited again Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi to Turkey. State Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin was also present in the meeting.
BERLUSCONI: ITALY WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP PROCESS
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said that Italy would continue to support Turkey's European Union (EU) membership process.
Berlusconi paid a visit to Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc.
During the meeting, relations between Turkey and the EU were taken up.
Speaking at the meeting, Berlusconi said that Italy would continue to support Turkey's EU membership process.
Recalling that Italy would take over the EU term presidency in June, Berlusconi said that Italy would expend efforts for Turkey's EU membership during its term presidency.
Meanwhile, Arinc said that Turkey maintained its target of becoming a member of the EU.
He informed Berlusconi on democratization and reform efforts.
Arinc invited Italian Parliament Speaker to Turkey.
Following the meeting, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Berlusconi left for Istanbul.
Erdogan and Berlusconi will partake in dinner of the Turkish-Italian Business Council.
12.05.2003