LISBON - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said late on Tuesday, ''the European Union (EU) will constitute one of the most important dimensions of future of Turkey-Portugal relations. Turkey considers the EU's taking a decision to open accession talks in end-2004 the latest one of its most significant targets of its foreign policy.''
Prime Minister Erdogan, who is currently paying an official visit to Portugal, held a tete-a-tete meeting with Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso of Portugal.
Following the meeting, Prime Minister Barroso hosted a dinner in honor of Prime Minister Erdogan.
Speaking at the dinner, Erdogan expressed his pleasure with coming to Portugal as the prime minister of Turkey after his visit to this country on November 25, 2002, as the leader of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party).
Erdogan thanked Prime Minister Barroso for his hospitality.
''Our relations extend far back into history. Our countries came face to face in a vast geography from Africa to several regions of Asia some 500 years ago. Today, Turkey and Portugal have succeeded in improving their relations and cooperation in many fields. The experience we took over from our rich past, has encouraged us to carry our friendship and cooperation to the future by further deepening them. Turkey and Portugal, two significant forces of their period in the history of world and humanity, have shaped course of history and proved that competition was the most important dynamism factor for development and growth,'' he said.
Prime Minister Erdogan continued, ''Portuguese people constitute a nation of powerful civilization and tolerance who enriched and widened the world with its discoveries. We feel ourselves close to Portuguese people to this end. There have been many affinities. During Portugal's transition period to republic in near past, young Portuguese revolutionists' calling themselves as 'young Turks' is one of the most important examples of these affinities.''
''During our meetings on November 25, 2002, Prime Minister Barroso and I observed that Turkey and Portugal have the necessary opportunities and will to further improve their bilateral relations within the new balances in the world. However, our cooperation in many fields including politics, trade, culture, education, tourism and sports are far away from our real potentials. Turkey gives priority to efforts to assess this potential in the best way. All these issues will be taken up in detail at our Wednesday's meeting with Prime Minister Barroso,'' he said.
Prime Minister Erdogan stressed, ''the EU will constitute one of the most important dimensions of future of Turkey-Portugal relations. Turkey considers the EU's taking a decision to open accession talks in end-2004 the latest one of its most significant targets of its foreign policy. Turkey has taken important steps in its EU membership process since 1999's Helsinki Summit at which Turkey's candidacy was announced officially. We will maintain our determination in the coming periods. Six EU adjustment packages, which were enacted by our parliament and the seventh package are the most concrete examples of our determination.''
''During this process, unprejudiced, farsighted and exemplary attitudes and policies of countries like Portugal have encouraged us. Turkey is a junction of civilizations and cultures. Millions of its citizens and hundreds of thousands of its investors live in the EU countries. Turkey is the sixth biggest commercial partner of the EU. Therefore, Turkey's membership to the EU will be beneficial for all sides,'' he emphasized.
Prime Minister Erdogan added that we would be pleased to host Prime Minister Barroso in Turkey.
(UK-AÖ) 02.07.2003