ANKARA - Italian Ambassador in Ankara Vittorio Claudio Surdo said on Friday that Italy favored starting of negotiations with Turkey at the moment harmonization is reached with Copenhagen criteria.
Speaking to A.A correspondent, Surdo said he was hopeful that necessary reforms and implementations would be fulfilled in line with the timetable determined during last Copenhagen summit of the European Union (EU).
Underlining importance of implementation of reforms to make the commission satisfied that criteria are met in accordance with the envisaged timetable, Surdo said Italy would do its best for Turkey's evaluation by the European institutions in an objective way. Surdo said the EU summit that would be held in 2003 December would bring Turkey closer to the negotiation process.
Surdo said estimations of the Turkish government officials that Turkey could be full member of the EU in 2011-2012 were extremely realistic.
Italian Ambassador said he observed from the talks he had with the Turkish government officials that Turkey was resolved to progress in adjustment process with the EU, and that this was supported by the opposition, increasing Italy's hopes.
Surdo underlined that Turkey's entrance process to the EU and Cyprus question were openly connected with each other, noting that solution of Cyprus question was not an official precondition for Turkey's starting negotiations with the EU.
Stating that Turkish government many times expressed that it did not consider insolubility as a solution on Cyprus, Surdo said the two sides in the island, and Turkey and Greece should exert efforts to resume talks to find a formula which is mutually accepted within the framework of Annan plan.
Surdo said they could not disregard the fact that there was not much time to find a solution to the problem, noting that reaching a solution before May 2004 would be beneficial for everybody.
Italian Ambassador said Ankara's attitude in accepting to pay compensation in Loizidou case should be evaluated as ''very positive'', and that it was a decision expending contribution in Turkey's entrance process to the EU.
Responding to a question about military-civilian relations in Turkey, Surdo said he did not want to talk about the details as it was an issue regarded with Turkey's internal policy. Surdo said this issue with a great possibility would take place in the 7th Adjustment package, adding that there were different implementations in Europe in this respect, and that he was sure that Turkey would find the right formula.
Surdo said statements of Italian Minister Rokko Buttiglione that there was not democracy in Turkey did not reflect the views of the Italian government, and that it was his own views.
Surdo said it was normal in democratic systems that parties, forming a coalition, don't share the general policy of the government, and that similar cases were seen in Turkey. What is important is the view expressed by the government and by the person heading the government.
Speaking about the discussions whether or not to include a paragraph in the European Constitution draft that ''roots of Europe are based on Christianity'', Surdo said even if such an item was included in the constitution, it only reflected a photograph of the existing reality, and that it could not prevent membership of a country, which is not Christian, to the Union.
Stating that no one could claim that the roots of EU was not based on Christianity, but existence of such an article does not show that a non-Christian country can't be an EU member either, Surdo underlined that Turkey was a candidate country and its candidacy was completely legitimate.
Noting that this article was not included in the latest draft, Surdo said there was not an agreement reached to put such an article and this would possibly be discussed in the intergovernmental conference.
Surdo said current political and economic relations between Italy and Turkey were perfect, stating that bilateral relations reached the highest level during the visit of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to Turkey in May 12-13. He said trade relations increased considerably in recent years, and turned into a strategical partnership, adding that 6.3 billion U.S. dollars trade volume was recorded in 2002.
Pointing out that Italy would attribute great importance to the maintenance of transatlantic dialogue during its term presidency, Surdo said Italy considered Turkey as an important element of balance in the Middle East.
Surdo said Ankara may undertake an important role in Israeli-Palestinian peace process, which Italy attributed importance, adding that Italy would continue to exert efforts in this respect. He noted that Italy would put forward a Marshall Plan that was already accepted by the EU and G-8.
(AY-AÖ) 04.07.2003