BRUSSELS - Turkish deputies representing Turkey at the European Convention, released a joint statement on Saturday and stressed that Turkey did not have more patience left for any delay in its European Union (EU) membership process.
While meetings of the European Convention, a platform where future of the EU is taken up, have been continuing in Brussels, Kemal Dervis, a deputy of the Republican People's Party (CHP) from Istanbul; Necdet Budak, a deputy of the CHP from Edirne province; Ibrahim Ozal, a deputy of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) from Istanbul; and Zekeriya Akcam, a deputy of the AK Party from Izmir province; released a written statement and stressed that they, as deputies of ruling and opposition parties, had been working together to accelerate Turkey's EU membership process.
Noting that there was not any serious difference of opinion between them, deputies said, ''deputies of ruling and opposition parties have been cooperating with each other because Turkey does not have more patience left for any delay in its EU membership process. Our parliament has been adopting all institutional changes to fulfill Copenhagen criteria. Turkey has been recording significant progress on the path leading to the EU membership. Also, we believe that a sound and prosperous Turkey will strengthen Europe and provide stability and progress in the Mediterranean. This cooperation at our two-party parliament is an historic event. We believe that this event will make a significant contribution to Turkey's EU full membership.''
(UK-MS) 31.05.2003