ANKARA - German Federal Labour and Economics Ministry State Secretary Gerd Andres said on Thursday that they closely monitored the studies of Turkey regarding the sixth and seventh adjustment packages.
Prime Minister Erdogan received the same day German deputies from Social Democrat Party (SDP) at the Prime Ministry.
State Minister Besir Atalay and Turkish-German Friendship Group member deputies attended the meeting.
When journalists asked Andres what they thought about the attempts to make civilian the National Security Council (NSC), he said that they closely monitored the issue and that they thought it was a very positive development. Andres said that they supported the efforts of Turkey regarding the issue, adding that ''the issue of making civilian the Secretary General of NSC and increasing the number of civilian members of NSC is discussed in Turkey, these are important and we extend support to it.''
When asked if the issue came to agenda during the meeting with Prime Minister Erdogan, Andres said that they didn't concretely take up that issue. Andres said they referred to certain issues in the sixth and seventh adjustment packages, adding that ''we closely monitor the efforts of Turkey. The sixth adjustment package is about to be adopted in the parliament today. Turkey aims to also adopt the seventh package before the summer recess.''
Gerd Andres said that ''Turkey seems to adopt the reforms until the end of 2004. Turkey says that it will implement one by one Copenhagen criteria. This is pleasing and it is also welcomed in Europe.''
Prime Ministry Press Centre said that Turkish-German relations, interparliamentary relations, EU, regional and international issues were discussed in the meeting.
(Öª-AÖ) 19.06.2003