IZMIT - National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said on Sunday that the European Union (EU) was a preference and civilization project which was impossible to discuss.
Releasing a speech in Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Kocaeli Central Town Congress, Gonul said that EU was formed in 1958 and most serious steps for Turkey, which applied to be its member after one years, were taken during AK Party's term in office. He added, ''EU is a civilization project for Turkey. It is a preference which is impossible to discuss.''
Noting that most concrete steps were taken about the issue with AK Party rule, Gonul said, ''our leader met with heads of states and governments by going to 14 countries in 20 days. At the end of it, receiving negotiation date at the end of 2004 in Copenhagen Summit has become certain. EU commissioner for enlargement is at the level of a minister. That EU official said that Turkey could speak about negotiation date even before the end of 2004. EU officials who were saying that Turkey could not be member before 15-20 years, started to say that Turkey's membership could be in question before 2008 after seeing these rapid studies.''
Touching on Turkey's policy about the war between the United States and Iraq and developments in Cyprus issue, Gonul said, ''our foreign policy concerns the region and all countries in the world. When the motion was not accepted at Parliament, relations with the United States were spoiled. But, with the opening of air space, the spoiled relations started to get better. We did not accept Annan Plan in Cyprus for two reasons. But we told them we were ready for negotiations about Maras.''
(GC-Öª) 25.05.2003