ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Monday that there was a big consensus among all institutions on initiatives on road to Turkey's European Union (EU) membership, adding, ''Turkey has never been so close to EU.''
Following his meeting with Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, Gul told reporters that ''they were preparing a new reform package which they hoped would be the last package in EU accession process.''
Gul said that they felt the need to present the package to CHP before sending it to parliament.
''They were bringing forward those reform packages because Turkey deserved them not because EU membership was in question,'' Gul stated.
Gul said, ''it is a fact that Turkey has never been so close to EU. We are exerting efforts to start negotiations in 2004.''
It was right to take action together with the government, opposition and non-governmental organizations, Gul noted.
Gul recalled that the government and opposition had always passed laws related with EU together and said, ''therefore, a serious consensus is in question. I hope we will altogether pass this package.''
Asked if Baykal expressed their views and reactions regarding the package, Gul said that Baykal would evaluate the package.
When asked when a joint statement would be made about the initiatives of the Turkish-U.S. joint commission to inquire detention of Turkish soldiers by U.S. forces in Iraq, Gul said, ''it will be announced when it is over.''
Upon claims that Turkey's Ambassador to the United States Faruk Logoglu was to give a note to the U.S. administration but was prevented by Gul, Gul said, ''these are totally lies, not real.''
(BRC) 14.07.2003