Gul: The Coming Months Are The Most Critical Period In Our Relations With The E.U.

''THIS PROGRAM WILL HAVE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A POLITICAL COMMITMENT AIMING AT STARTING ACCESSION TALKS IN END-2004''

ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday, ''the National Program will have the characteristics of a political commitment aiming at starting accession talks with the European Union (EU) in end-2004.''
Addressing the Parliamentary General Assembly, Gul gave information about the National Program.
Noting that the National Program was composed of 877 pages, Gul said, ''the program includes political and economic issues in detail. It was prepared with contributions of all military and public institutions and by benefiting from views of non-governmental organizations. After listening to views of political parties, the program will be given its final shape.''
''Turkey's EU full membership is the most important project since the foundation of the Republic. Turkey's candidacy to the EU was officially announced during the Helsinki Summit in December of 1999. Turkey prepared its first National Program in 2001. In line with this program, the former government has made some constitutional amendments and approved three adjustment packages. Later, our three adjustment packages have been enacted,'' he said.
Pointing out that the reviewed National Program included arrangements to be made in 2003, 2004 and 2005, Gul said, ''this program is a road map in our EU full membership process. Our reform process will continue during the accession negotiations. There are short-term, medium-term and long-term reforms. As we said on numerous occasions, we make these reforms not for the EU, but for our people. We have been expending intense efforts for a more democratic, more developed and more transparent Turkey.''
Gul said, ''all of these are also parallel with EU criteria. Thus, we are not making reforms by forcing and with pressure. We are making these voluntarily and as our people deserve it. A government and a Parliament which are acting with this understanding will surely bring Turkey to a place that it deserves. In the end of it, whether there is EU or not, Turkey and Turkish people will gain from all of these.''
Emphasizing that the most important step in Turkey-EU relations after Helsinki Summit was formed in Copenhagen Summit, Gul said that in that summit, accession talks were decided to be started in the end of 2004 and accession partnership accord and national program were decided to be revised in this direction if criteria were fulfilled.
Noting that Turkey's national program was revised according to the changed conditions after EU's revision of accession partnership accord, Gul said, ''the basis of this is the national program of 2001. We are revising it according to the changed conditions. There is nothing new in it and the broadest one is the national program of 2001, but there are many problems that Turkey has solved within this period.''
''Now, we will mature this revised national program by taking into consideration of your criticisms, suggestions, political parties' suggestions and the suggestions of non-governmental organizations and then we will make it the decision of Council of Ministers and publish it in Official Gazette and present it to commission,'' noted Gul.
Gul said, ''this program, at the same time, will have the quality of a political commitment which aims starting of membership negotiations in the end of 2004. Program should have the qualities of meeting the expectations in accession partnership accord and completing them to bring us to full membership target. These are EU standards. We want to show with this program in the end of 2004 that 'Turkey completed political criteria fulfilled in any of EU countries and what Turkey will do from now on are the issues which will be carried out through the negotiation process, but Turkey has fulfilled all basic principles'. The performance which we will show in meeting these expectations will determine whether Turkey can start full membership negotiations in the end of 2004.''
Gul said that political criteria must be met to start full membership negotiations.
Gul said, ''we will expend intense efforts in every field about EU adjustment process. 93 new laws will be enacted, 61 laws will be amended, 391 administrative arrangements will be made and 84 administrative arrangements will be changed. We will exert intense efforts to adjust our regulations with the EU. Our efforts are not limited with the EU membership. We target to carry our country to an influential and distinguished position in the world platform.''
Describing the EU as the final greatest step of Turkey in modernization and development process, Gul said, ''this is a difficult path. However, steps to be taken on this path are clear. After taking these steps, Turkey will be able to compete with the best countries of the world and reach its desired place in globalization process. Besides preparation of the National Program, its implementation is also of great importance. Turkey's constitutional and legal arrangements are appreciated in the international platforms. However, our delay in putting them into practice is criticized.''
''The laws enacted by the parliament will be put into practice as soon as possible. We target to enact all necessary laws. Then, these laws will be put into practice in 2004,'' he said.
Highlighting importance of approval of necessary adjustment packages before parliamentary recess, Gul said, ''both the government and the parliament have the necessary will to do this. Parliamentary recess will start on August 1 instead of July 1 to this end.''
''Turkish Penal Code, the Code of Civil Procedure (CMUK), the Press Law, the Law about Duties of Police, the Law for Meetings and Demonstrations, the Higher Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) Law, the Military Penal Code, the Law for Foundation of Directorate General of Women's Status and Problems are among the laws to be amended in the long-term.''
Gul said, ''our government is determined to put into practice all reforms envisaged in the 'political criteria' section of the National Program in 2004. Some conventions of the United Nations were signed by Turkey long time ago. However, these conventions have not been approved by the parliament yet. Last week, some important conventions were approved at the parliament.''
Gul said, ''there is no need for hesitation in these conventions. Reservations have already been put if there are drawbacks. But, if I list the countries which do not adopt these conventions until now, you do not want Turkey to be listed among these countries. Thus, all the things made are proper. All of them has made Turkey take a forward step in the path to EU.''
Noting that economic and financial criteria took more place in the National Program than political criteria, Gul gave information about commitments in this part.
Gul said that full independence of Central Bank would be provided just before the membership and taking part of Central Bank among European central banks would be implemented with the membership and he added that Turkish Labor Law would be revised and regional development plans would be prepared. He said that amendments in laws under this criteria were explained.
Gul said, ''this process, at the same time, is including our citizens' to reach a healthier and higher life standards and to eliminate regional imbalances. With this aim, we are on the step of fulfilling all necessary adjustment laws. What we want is a well and active functioning administration and a strong state, a settled democracy with its organizations and institutions, an economy which is open to all people and which provides equal opportunities to all of them. What we want is modern freedoms system. Uniting with EU will develop Turkey and make it rich.''
Recalling that general elections would be made at European Parliament in 2004, Gul said that new people would start to work with those elections and thus, they wanted to start negotiations in the end of 2004 by completing regulations in 2003, adding that how long this process would last was not clear. He said the process could extend to 2010-2011 and it was related with Turkey's performance. He added that Turkey was face to face with a big integration project and the most critical process was the coming few months and the government and Parliament were aware of this.
Gul's presentation lasted nearly 40 minutes. Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and some EU member countries' ambassadors also followed the meetings.

(UK-GC-AÖ) 01.07.2003