GAZIANTEP - Hansjorg Kretschmer, the representative of the European Union (EU) Commission in Turkey, said on Wednesday that Turkey had taken important steps in its EU membership process in last one and a half years. Speaking at a meeting at the Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce (GTO), Kretschmer said that Turkey which had officially become a EU candidate state in 1999, started adjustment efforts in 2001 and recorded important progress in reform process since 2002.
Stressing that the Turkish government was carrying out an intense and serious program for EU full membership, Kretschmer said, ''reform laws were made. The parliament adopted the sixth adjustment law. Regulation arrangements are still under way. This reform process will make Turkey come much closer to liberal economy, increase basic rights and freedoms and accelerate EU accession process.''
Stressing that the EU had full confidence in Turkey that it was on the right path in candidacy process, Kretschmer said that Turkey should fulfil political, technical, economic and social criteria to be a EU full member. Noting that he believed Turkey would succeed in its reform process it had initiated for EU full membership, Kretschmer said that difference among Turkey's all regions in terms of development should also be removed to join the EU. ''With this respect, we came to southeastern Anatolia region of Turkey to get information. Our tour of Diyarbakir, Sanliurfa and Gaziantep provinces were important for us, and we had positive impressions,'' he said.
(MS) 25.06.2003