BUDAPEST - Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said on Wednesday that Turkey wanted to reach its target of being European by receiving negotiation date latest in December, 2004.
Arinc started his contacts in Hungary by meeting with Hungarian Parliament Speaker Katalin Szili. Szili said that the visit of Arinc and accompanying delegation to Hungary would bring a new acceleration to the relations of parliaments of two countries.
Recalling that Turkey supported Hungary's membership to NATO, Szili said, ''I thank you for that issue. Now, it's our turn... European Union (EU) period is starting. Turkey's being member of EU is very important for Hungary. Turkey's intention for being a member of such a union is supported by Hungary. Interparliamentary relations can be a basis for this. Interparliamentary dynamic relations will develop economic relations between two countries.''
Arinc said in his part that he was very pleased to be in a friend country, Hungary. Noting that there was a friendship depending on history between peoples of two country, Arinc said that his visit would strengthen this friendship. He added that relations on parliamentary level were very beneficial.
Noting that November 3 elections was a turning point for Turkey, Arinc said that relations between two countries would continue by increasing from now on.
Arinc said, ''we supported Hungary's membership to NATO. Hungary is ahead of us in EU issue... It will become a full member in 2004. I think this membership will be good both for Hungary and EU. Turkey also wants to be a full member to EU. Majority of people also supports this. Parliament is making reformist arrangements about the issue. Recently, an adjustment law including 23 items was adopted in Parliament. We want to reach the target of being European by receiving a negotiation date latest in December, 2004 by continuously fulfilling these reforms. We know that Hungary will support us in this issue.''
Repeating that Hungary would be a full member of EU in 2004, Arinc said that they would benefit from the experiences of Hungarian Parliament Speaker in this issue.
Noting that economic relations between Turkey and Hungary was not on the expected level, Arinc said that they also did not consider the increase in recent years sufficient and he added that they wanted to reach desired level by visits on the levels of Prime Minister and ministers.
Upon a question of a reporter, Arinc said that Thessaloniki Summit was pleasing for Turkey and added that people in the summit have applauded reforms in Turkey.
ARINC: ''WE WANT HUNGARIAN AUTHORITIES TO BAN KADEK'S SUBSIDIARY ORGAN KURDISTAN INFORMATION ASSOCIATION''
Arinc asked Peter Kiss, the Minister in charge of the Hungarian Prime Minister's Office, to ban terrorist KADEK's subsidiary organ Kurdistan Information Association.
Speaking at the meeting, Arinc said that friendship between Turkey and Hungary extended far back into history, and they wished this friendship would reach highest level.
Noting that a new period had started in Turkey after November 3, 2002 general elections, Arinc said that the government had been expending intense efforts to solve problems in Turkey.
Stating that Turkey had made arrangements like reform to join the European Union (EU), Arinc said that under this framework, developments had occurred at the EU Thessaloniki Summit about start of accession talks earlier than December of 2004.
Arinc said that they wished trade volume between Turkey and Hungary would increase, exchange of students would be made, and businessmen would make mutual investments.
Recalling that Turkey had offered visa facility to Hungarians while Hungary did not do the same thing to Turkish citizens, Arinc said he hoped this problem would be solved as soon as possible.
''Besides, there may be some people who try to destroy relations between our two countries. We feel concern about it. We want you to control and ban Kurdistan Information Association, the subsidiary organ of the PKK which shed blood in Turkey for years,'' he said.
''Several countries in Europe banned many organizations and associations which were working for this terrorist organization. They took notice of our sensitivity,'' he stressed.
During the meeting, Arinc also brought the Armenian diaspora's genocide allegations onto the agenda.
Stressing that Armenians had not been exposed to genocide during either the Ottoman era or the history of the Republic of Turkey, Arinc said those who continued this debate were acting deliberately and ideologically.
Stating that allegations of genocide should be left to historians, Arinc said that some works of art in Hungary bearing sentences about so-called Armenian genocide hurt feelings of Turkish citizens.
Meanwhile, Kiss said that they were following Turkey's steps on EU path with appreciation.
Stressing that he agreed with Arinc's opinion that Armenian genocide allegations should be left to historians, Kiss said, ''keeping such issues on the agenda is not beneficial also to us.''
Kiss added that they were in favor of discussion of visa on Turkish citizens again but the EU's restrictions were clear.
Following the meeting, Arinc visited the Turkish Cemetery in Budapest.
(GC-AÖ-MS) 25.06.2003