Erdogan In Portugal

PORTUGUESE DEPUTY PARLIAMENT SPEAKER BELEZA WELCOMES ERDOGAN WITH AN OFFICIAL CEREMONY

LISBON - Portuguese Deputy Parliament Speaker Leonor Beleza welcomed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan with an official ceremony at his arrival to Parliament building on Wednesday.
Following the ceremony, Erdogan met with Portuguese Parliament Speaker Joan Bosco Mota Amaral.
ERDOGAN MEETS WITH HIS PORTUGUESE COUNTERPART BARROSO
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso.
Following his meeting with Portuguese businessmen at Tivoli Hotel in Lisbon, Erdogan preceded the Portuguese Prime Ministry building.
Erdogan and Barroso held a tete-a-tete meeting which lasted nearly half an hour. Later, a meeting between Turkish and Portuguese delegations started.
ERDOGAN AND BARROSO HOLD JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE
Erdogan said on Wednesday that bilateral relations, Cyprus issue, Turkey-European Union (EU) relations and important regional and international issues had been discussed at the meetings between the Turkish and Portuguese delegations that he chaired together with his Portuguese counterpart Jose Manuel Durao Barroso.
Following their tete-a-tete meeting and meeting between the delegations, Erdogan and Barroso held a joint press conference.
Barroso said that they had discussed bilateral relations at last night's and today's meetings, and they had evaluated Turkey's EU accession process.
Noting that they had assessed international issues, and they had taken up particularly Cyprus, Israel-Palestine and Iraq issues, Barroso said that bilateral relations between Turkey and Portugal were not at the desired level, and they had reached an agreement on necessity of development of bilateral relations.
Stating that 2003 was the 'year of Turkish-Portuguese relations' as it was said by Erdogan, Barroso said that the President of Portugal would visit Turkey this year, and he would pay a visit to Turkey next year.
Stressing that as the Portuguese government, they supported Turkey's accession to the EU, Barroso said that Turkey would continue adopting reform packages in coming year, and they hoped talks between Turkey and the EU would start, and they supported it.
Barroso thanked Erdogan for his efforts to join the European family.
Meanwhile, Erdogan expressed his pleasure with being the first Turkish Prime Minister visiting Portugal and thanked Barroso for their hospitality.
Noting that he wished his visit would add momentum to existing positive relations between Turkey and Portugal in every field in terms of content, Erdogan recalled that in November of 2002, prior to the EU Copenhagen Summit he had visited capital city of European countries including Lisbon as the leader of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party).
Stating that they were grateful to Portugal's support to Turkey during that process, Erdogan said that the visit in question had constituted an important step on further development of relations under the EU.
Erdogan said that they had exchanged opinions about common issues concerning Turkey and Portugal by discussing bilateral relations, Cyprus issue, Turkey-EU relations and important regional and international issues at the meetings between the Turkish and Portuguese delegations that he chaired together with his Portuguese counterpart Jose Manuel Durao Barroso.
Erdogan said that he attributed importance to development of relations between Turkey and Portugal which had an important potential of cooperation in the future.
Stating that bilateral meetings between the two countries which were co-members of several regional and international platforms, particularly NATO had remained limited, Erdogan said, ''however, in addition to my visit, Portuguese President Mr. Jorge Sampaio's visit to Turkey in September, our foreign minister's visit to Portugal in autumn will enable start of a new era in relations between our two countries.''
''I am pleased to see that Mr. Barroso had the same determination to bring our bilateral relations to further levels in every field. Continuation of our productive consultations in several levels and fields will contribute to further broadening and deepening of our bilateral relations which are based on a friendship that extends far back into history and are actually not overshadowed by any problem. With this respect, I want to mention that I would be very pleased to host Mr. Barroso in our country in spring,'' Erdogan added.
Erdogan said that the European Union (EU) was not either a Christian or geographical union, adding, ''the EU is a whole of political values. The EU is a union which is an address of joining of civilizations, not the address of clash of civilizations.''
When asked about proposals of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) for solution of Cyprus issue and what he thought about solution of Iraq issue, Barroso said, ''at the meetings, we benefited from Mr. Erdogan's information on Cyprus. Portugal extends full support to Annan's plan, and it is ready to do its best for a political solution as soon as possible. Recent changes about Cyprus are very important changes, of course. However, this never means that a lasting solution was found in Cyprus. There is a divided island there. I believe that this problem should be solved as soon as possible.''
''About Iraq issue, Portugal abides by and supports the latest decision of the U.N. Security Council. What is important here is to find a lasting solution to Iraq as a result of international solidarity. We believe that especially Iraq's territorial integrity and a safe environment should be provided as soon as possible. With this objective, everybody has responsibility. And Portugal will do its best about this issue,'' he said.
When a Portuguese reporter asked whether inclusion of an article on Christianity in the European Constitution would make Turkey's EU membership difficult, Erdogan said, ''a misunderstanding is in question here. Because, there is not such a proposal or an article in the draft EU Constitution. Also Mr. Barroro knows well about it. A few countries made such a demand but it was rejected. Because, it contradicts with principles of foundation of the EU. The EU is not either a Christian or geographical union. It is a whole of political values. The EU is a union which is the address of joining of civilizations, not the address of clash of civilizations.''
Replying the same question, Barroso said that Portugal accepted that the EU was not a religious, but a secular union.
Noting that they accepted that there was a Christian reference in the EU's cultural and historical issues, Barroso said, ''but this does not mean that those who believe in different religion or do not belong to any religion can't be in the union. Because, the union has nothing to do with religion.''
When reminded of positive evaluation of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi about Turkey's EU membership process, Erdogan said that both Berlusconi and Barroso had always supported Turkey's membership process prior to the Copenhagen criteria and Thessaloniki summit.
PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN ADDRESSES CLOSING SESSION OF SEMINAR ENTITLED: ''TURKEY-PORTUGAL NEW FACILITIES-FROM COOPERATION TO PARTNERSHIP''
Erdogan said that Turkey has a strong economy which has its own dynamics despite its fight against terrorism in the past 15 years, recent quakes, and very big problems most of which stemming from outside conditions like the effects of Iraq war.
Erdogan addressed the closing session of seminar entitled, ''Turkey-Portugal New Facilities-From Cooperation to Partnership'' held in Expo-98 fair area.
Erdogan said trade volume between the two countries, which is 300-350 million U.S. dollars per year, and tourism with around 15-20 thousand people can not be satisfactory.
Erdogan said Turkey and Portugal are two countries which are dynamic, and took steps in regional and international levels, stating that resumption of activities of Turkish-Portuguese Business Council was very important.
Erdogan said Turkey's full membership to the European Union (EU) would have positive contributions to Turkish-Portuguese relations, stating that it would serve new facilities and opportunities to the two countries.
Erdogan said Turkey was a European country with its historical past, geographical situation, people, cultural richness, and ability in business, and trade.
Erdogan said Turkish-Portuguese business, trade, joint investment and project facilities were valid for many areas, stating that experienced Turkish and Portuguese contractors could carry out joint works.
Erdogan said cooperation and constructive competition were always an important element of relations, stressing that, ''Turkish-Portuguese relations in the past changed flow of history in the past, and led to formation of new trade and economic balances in the world.''
PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN DEPARTS FROM LISBON
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan departed from Lisbon on Wednesday after wrapping up his contacts.
State Ministers Ali Babacan and Kursad Tuzmen, businessmen, journalists and bureaucrats also left for Turkey.

(AY-MS-AÖ) 02.07.2003