ANKARA - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday that they targeted to fulfill all the arrangements, which are necessary for Turkey to start negotiations with the European Union (EU), in a way that may be reflected to EU's progress report.
Gul, who responded the questions of Murat Akgun on private NTV channel, recalled that Copenhagen political criteria should be met to start full membership negotiations with the EU, stating that arrangements should be completed before 2003 Progress Report and elections that would take place in European Parliament in 2004.
Gul stated that there were arrangements which Turkey should fulfill, noting that most of them were included in the sixth Adjustment Package. Gul said, ''we are resolved to release the sixth package. This package should be issued before the parliament recesses so that this year's progress report would clearly call Turkey a candidate to the EU.''
Pointing out that they favored pluralist democracy, Gul said they were pleased that everybody stated their own views about the reform packages. Gul said the government proposed to hold a general discussion in the Parliament in this respect. Gul said they wanted to take the views of relevant ministries and institutions about the reform package, and that Council of Ministers would convene after the discussions, and that the package would be sent to Parliament afterwards.
Gul said 2012 or 2013 were ''realistic estimations'' for Turkey's EU membership in case talks start in 2004.
Underlining that being a full member of the EU was a state policy, Gul said such an important issue should be an agenda item in the National Security Council (NSC). He said the program could not be discussed in the NSC as the National Program could not be ready.
Gul said, ''we should not form our institutions wrongly. What is NSC? NSC is not a board that administers Turkey. NSC is a board which convenes every month, discussing important issues, and taking recommendatory decisions on those issues.''
Gul said, ''it is an institution which the Turkish Armed Forces expressed their views in a democratic platform, and within legal borders. However, the government has the responsibility of administering the country. It is the duty of the Parliament to make laws.''
When recalled that Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit stated their views that they were against broadcast in Kurdish, Gul said they, who have the responsibility of administering the country, have concerns.
Stating that none of the arrangements could be made with closed eyes, Gul said the important point on broadcast was to interfere when necessary. Gul pointed out that implementations in other countries would be reviewed.
Foreign Minister Gul, speaking about the statements which had been made after visit of TUSIAD delegation to the United States, pointed out that they supported contacts and visits, yet that, ''everybody should be careful not to give damage as trying to make contributions.''
Gul said statement of the United States regarding the ambassadors accredited to former administration of Iraq was natural, adding that they found it beneficial to have the embassy in Iraq open for healthy flow of information.
(AY-MS) 30.05.2003