GAZIANTEP - European Union (EU) Commission's Representative to Turkey Hans Joerg Kretschmer said on Wednesday that Turkish government and parliament rapidly continued initiatives regarding regulations to adjust to EU standards.
Kretschmer and Simon Mordue, an official responsible for EU funds, visited Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce (GTO) Chairman Mehmet Aslan and GTO Executive Board members.
EU Commission's Representative to Turkey Kretschmer said that that was the first time he visited Southeastern Anatolia Region and Gaziantep and he had the opportunity to closely learn about the region.
Kretschmer noted that the aim of EU Commission's Representation in Turkey was to be beside Turkey in EU process and extend support to Turkey.
One of the leading aims of foreign policy of Turkish government was to become EU full member, Kretschmer said.
Kretschmer stated that both the government and parliament continued efforts to adjust to EU standards.
Fulfillment of political criteria was a precondition to open full membership negotiations with Turkey, Kretschmer said.
Kretschmer pointed out that another important issue was implementation of those reforms in Turkey and one of the aim of his visit was that.
He wanted to see how the political criteria were reflected to daily life and to see the developments there, Kretschmer said.
Kretschmer emphasized that not only the officials in Ankara but also the local officials were responsible for implementation of reforms.
Gaziantep was an important city in that respect, Kretschmer said.
Noting that Gaziantep could constitute an example for many provinces in regard with its economic development and high level of welfare, Kretschmer said that he would try to learn how Gaziantep ensured those developments during his visit.
GTO Chairman Aslan emphasized that Kretschmer's visit was very important and significant and said, ''as the Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce, we have supported every step taken on the road to EU adjustment and we will continue our support.''
Serious reform process and preparations started after the Helsinki Summit were put into practice with the sixth adjustment package, Aslan noted.
Aslan stated that significant progress had been recorded in adjustment to Copenhagen criteria.
''The revised National Program is another development which will accelerate the efforts in that field. We have full belief that Turkey will start full membership negotiations in the first months of 2005 within the scope of the developments till December 2004. As the chamber, EU is at the top of the main issues we take up with concerned authorities and the steps taken by Turkey for EU adjustment are supported,'' Aslan said.
Aslan added, ''the main reason of this support is not only to ensure Turkey take the place it deserves in the strongest union of the world, but also to see the contributions of adjustment initiatives to our economic and social lives. Gaziantep, which always attributes a special importance to relations with the EU, will continue to undertake the role of coordination in dialogue and cooperation with the region and the EU in the future as it has done so far.''
(BRC-AÖ) 25.06.2003