ISTANBUL - Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said on Monday that they would continue making legal arrangements necessary for accession to the European Union (EU), adding, ''it is also our duty to provide their implementation. Anybody should not doubt about it.''
Aksu who returned to Turkey after wrapping up his official visit to Bulgaria held a press conference at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport.
Noting that he had paid an official visit to Bulgaria upon the Bulgarian Interior Minister's invitation, and his meetings in Bulgaria were very beneficial, Aksu said, ''I believe that my visit would contribute to existing neighborly and cooperation relations.''
Stating that cooperation between the Turkish and Bulgarian interior ministries had several dimensions, Aksu said, ''we had the opportunity of reviewing in detail our cooperation in fight against terrorism, organized crimes and every kind of smuggling.''
Noting that both countries had broad opportunities of cooperation, Aksu said that there were agreements on several issues that were under responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and they had reached an agreement on review of those agreements according to today's conditions and renovation of them if necessary.
Stating that there was an effective cooperation between the two countries in field of coast security, Aksu said that they had decided to rapidly finalize the work on implementation of the agreements which the Black Sea littoral states had signed in 1999.
Noting that his Bulgarian counterpart and he had reached agreement on several issues, Aksu said, ''we decided to appoint communications policemen mutually for rapid contact between our two ministries. Besides, we took up several issues like residence, transit passage and illegal migration, and we recorded positive progress. We decided to discuss these again at joint commission meetings that will be held soon at technician level.''
Aksu said that during his visit, he had exchanged opinion about solution of problems of kinsmen living in Bulgaria, adding that they had decided to take necessary measures to solve problems at customs.
Later, Aksu answered questions of reporters.
Replying a question about the opinions that 'there were some problems in implementation of EU adjustment laws, Aksu said, ''adoption of EU adjustment laws will continue. It is not clear what will be included in new packages. We will discuss them. We do have the will of exerting every necessary effort to join the EU. Necessary legal arrangements for accession to the EU will be made, and it is our duty to implement these. Anybody should not doubt about it.''
Replying a question about bill on 'reassociation', Aksu said, ''a general amnesty is not on our agenda at the moment. I earlier mentioned that this is not an amnesty law. It covers reduction in penalty. We don't think of a general amnesty.''
Later, Aksu proceeded from Istanbul to Ankara.
(MS-AÖ) 30.06.2003