ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul informed on Sunday Justice and Development Party (AK Party) members about the steps taken regarding the European Union (EU) membership in AK Party Central Decision Executive Board (MKYK) meeting.
Gul gave information about the Sixth Adjustment Package in the meeting held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Noting that there were no reaction of society against the Sixth Adjustment Package, Gul said that they aimed to adopt EU adjustment laws within this year. He added that Turkey could receive negotiation date for EU membership with the activities fulfilled in 2004 and the Sixth Adjustment package could be presented to Parliament next week. He said that they aimed to complete seventh and eighth adjustment packages until the end of July.
Gul said, while conveying his impressions in his meetings abroad, that Turkey's respectability was increasing each day. He added that Turkey could take active part in solution of Middle East problem because Turkey was the only country which had good relations with Israel and Palestine and they could benefit from Turkey.
Gul said that he conveyed this idea to Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and added that sides could reach permanent solution together with Turkey.
Noting that Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal was still holding meetings in the United States, Gul said that he could visit this country after the return of Ziyal if necessary.
(GC-AÖ) 09.06.2003