Turkey - Eu Joint Parliamentary Commission Meeting

GUL: ''RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND EU INTENSIFY ON FIELDS OF COOPERATION''
ISTANBUL - Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said on Monday that, ''relations between Turkey and the European Union (EU) don't any more focus on problematic points, but intensify on fields of cooperation.''
Speaking at the 50th meeting of Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission, Gul said this meeting's taking place in Istanbul presented a unique perspective to better convey Turkey's views.
Gul said the meeting coincided with a period in which an important stage of Turkey's full membership to EU approached, adding that relations between Turkey and the EU started intensify on fields of cooperation. He said reflection of this on Joint Parliamentary Commission meetings would be natural.
Gul said Turkey from the very beginning was interested in efforts for the formation of a united Europe, recalling that Turkey had applied for partnership of European Economic Community (EEC) on July 31, 1959.
Gul said, ''our country from the beginning considered relations with Europe as a natural extension of its civilization project. The values adopted by Turkey are the values which European democracy took as basis.''
Gul said every stage of Turkish-EU relations were toward the target of full membership, adding that association agreement signed in 1963, full membership application made in 1987, and entrance to Customs Union since 1966 were important stages toward full membership.
Gul said both sides undertook the commitment to pass to a new stage in relations after announcement of Turkey as candidate for the EU in 1999 Helsinki Summit.
Gul said the EU Council in Copenhagen Summit in 2002, that Turkey's accession talks would start in December 2004 without delay in case Turkey meets Copenhagen political criteria.
''I know, as the Joint Parliamentary Commission, you closely cover the developments about our country. Our government is resolved to fulfill Copenhagen political criteria by the end of 2003. We have intensified efforts to broaden scope of fundamental rights and freedoms, and to implement them effectively. New adjustment package was approved by the Parliament and took effect within this framework,'' Gul stated.
Acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Gul said a third package was completed and sent to the Parliament last week, noting that several other steps would follow this. He said the Parliament decided not to recess before meeting Copenhagen political criteria and fulfilling necessary regulations.
Gul said, ''Human Rights Department and Human Rights Board, which cooperate with the Department, carry out studies on human rights training and implements in coordination with the EU Commission and Council of Europe. Our zero tolerance approach on torture and abuse is rapidly implemented.''
Gul said Turkey became a side to the six main contracts of the U.N. system in the field of human rights, stressing that this was the indication of Turkey's determination to reach the highest standards and norms in the field of human rights.
Gul said no:6 addition protocol of Council of Europe about lifting of death sentence at times of peace, was presented to the parliament, stating that he hoped this would be approved in the coming days.
Gul said fight against corruption mainly tops the agenda of their government.
Gul said, ''I would like to point out that we have the courage to take those steps at a period when fundamental rights and freedoms are restricted in some democracies for security reasons.''
GUL:''TURKEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO REFORMATION PROCESS OF BOTH EUROPE AND GLOBAL BALANCES BY BEING FULL MEMBER OF EU''
Gul said that Turkey took important steps in abiding by Copenhagen economic criteria. Gul pointed out that Turkey could more easily continue undertaking political reforms if it increased its economic prosperity level.
Gul pointed out that the government confirmed its devotion to the programme of transition to strong economy when it came to power, adding that the economic transformation programme which included development of foreign direct investments, privatization of financial markets, tax in real sector and expenditure programmes, was being implemented.
Gul stated that the government was about to implement the public administration reform which included fight with bribery, state personnel reform, regulation of local administrations.
Gul said that social policies which foresaw decrease of unemployment, social security reform was part of the government's urgent plan, adding that these steps would constitute a good basis of the accession negotiations.
Noting that the parliament's forming a new commission about activities of integration with the EU was an important step, Gul said that Turkey-EU relations advanced dynamically within the framework of the process foreseen by decisions taken at Helsinki and Copenhagen summits.
''Our number one target is to ensure the correct reflection of the positive developments in our country by the EU Commission's 2003 progress report and to make EU take the decision of starting the negotiations with Turkey at the end of 2004 at the latest,'' Gul said.
Gul pointed out that Turkey believed that EU would give importance to be objective in assessing the results and that it would not treat Turkey differently from other candidate countries. Gul pointed out that the evaluation to be made by EU was very important for overcoming certain prejudice about Turkey and for explaining better the contributions of Turkey to the EU. Gul pointed out that they didn't find sufficient the acceleration ensured in the last period, adding that they expected the contribution of the Joint Parliamentary Commission to the information campaign.
Gul also referred to the contributions of Turkey to the EU, noting that ''Turkey can contribute to re-formation of both Europe and global balances by becoming a full member of the EU. As a country which accepted the principles of secularism, democracy and supremacy of law, Turkey can support the efforts of further spreading and strengthening of European values. When Turkey joins the EU with its Muslim identity, the claim of cultural diversification will also strengthen. Turkey's membership will symbolize the transition of EU from regionalism to universality. Turkey is at the centre of sensitive regions. Such a Turkey will end EU's being inward-looking regional organization whose global influence is limited and whose strategic depth ends on the borders of member countries. In this respect European Security and Defense Policy will speed up by the accession of Turkey which has a sui generis geopolitic status and potential.''

-ECONOMIC DIMENSION OF TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP-
Pointing out to the economic dimension of Turkey's EU membership, Gul said it was estimated that Turkey's national income per capita would increase to more than 10 thousand U.S. dollars in Turkey after 20-25 years, Gul said thus Turkey would be a young, dynamic and rapidly developing market within Europe.
Gul said, ''Turkish economy has an extremely strong structure which those who look from outside can not realize. Turkish economy managed to recover in two years despite the quake disasters and big crisis in finance sector. Our economy had recorded more than 8 percent growth rate in 2002.''
Gul said Turkey, which would be further enriched with foreign investments after EU membership and which would adjust its infrastructure to the EU, would further increase its economic power.
Acting Prime Minister Gul stated that Turkey is located in the key point of energy, transportation and communication networks which linked the east to Europe and which gradually gained importance. He said Turkey had the claim to be the leader country in foreign trade in its geography, adding that it had developed comprehensive trade relations with member countries of Central Asia, Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, and Economic Cooperation Organization.
''Thus, Turkey will be able to contribute to the opening of the EU to those markets, and entrance of raw materials, which has historical importance, for European economy,'' he noted.
Stressing that the high performance which Turkey recorded in adjustment with the EU norms constituted an example that Turkey could rapidly meet needs for accession, Gul said, ''Turkey fulfilled Customs Union without a serious foreign source transfer from the EU, adding that this constituted the most concrete example of adjustment ability.''
Gul said, ''there is an important opportunity in front of us to serve this joint goal,'' adding that he strongly believed that this opportunity would be evaluated in the best way.
TURKEY HAS NEVER BEEN SO CLOSE TO EU
Dumanoglu said that Turkey-EU relations had a 40-year past and there had been ups and downs in the relations so far.
Dumanoglu noted that every Turkish government gave priority to EU membership, Dumanoglu said, ''Turkey has never been so close to the EU.''
Emphasizing that Turkey would accelerate reform process till the end of that year, Dumanoglu said that the legal arrangements would be put into practice till the end of 2004.
Dumanoglu stated that Turkey could not use financial assistance of the EU as similarly as other candidate countries and said, ''Turkey should be given financial assistance so that it can increase its institutional capacity and fulfil its EU obligations.''
Financial assistance to be given to Turkey was low when compared with that of the other candidate countries, Dumanoglu pointed out.
Dumanoglu said, ''it is not possible to understand why accession negotiations have to be awaited to receive financial assistance.''
Noting that Turkey would bring a variety to the EU, Dumanoglu said that Turkey's membership would bring an esteem to the EU.
Touching on developments in Cyprus, Dumanoglu said that EU Commission had to make decision taking into consideration both of the sides in Cyprus.
Dumanoglu added that embargo imposed on TRNC should be lifted and TRNC should be supported by financial assistance.
Co-Chairman Joost Lagendijk said that they wanted to discuss EU-Turkey relations openly in Istanbul.
Lagendijk noted that many things had changed since the last general election in Turkey and that they saw determination of Turkish government and parliament to become EU member.
That meeting laid additional liabilities, Lagendijk said.
Lagendijk stated that they would express different views in the meeting.
Noting that they did not find everything done by Turkish government sufficient, Lagendijk said that they did not have an intention not to include Turkey in the EU.
Stating that they were waiting for the sixth adjustment package, Lagendijk said that they had to understand and see those reforms.
Lagendijk added that the European Parliament were trying to support Turkey as much as possible.
(BRC-Öª) 16.06.2003