Erdogan: Turkey Will Be One Of The Most Important Countries In Future Of E.U.

ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that Turkey would be one of the most important countries in the future of the European Union (EU), stating that contemporary administration norms envisaged by the EU and contemporary ideals of the Republic were in harmony.
Addressing the nation, Erdogan said the government considered Turkey as the biggest step in opening Turkey to the world and on the way to integrate with the EU. He said the government did its best to fulfill EU membership soon.
Erdogan said Turkey's membership to the EU would bring contributions both to Turkey and to the EU countries, stating that this should not be considered as contribution to one side. Erdogan said Turkey would be one of the most important countries in future of the EU. He said it should not be forgotten that contemporary administration norms envisaged by the EU and contemporary ideals of the Republic were in harmony.
Erdogan said Turkey would neither isolate its own values from the outside world, nor damage its own values by opening to the outside world without principles.
Erdogan said Turkey's strategic location, historical and cultural richness, economic potential and natural resources would bring a new breath to the EU as a regional force, adding that this would add a new momentum to big civilization project.
Erdogan said Turkey would integrate with the world system by preserving its own values, acquisitions, and principle choices, and stated that Turkey's face is turned into a contemporary world.
Stressing that the EU membership was one of the most important processes on the way of Turkey's development, Erdogan said the government accelerated this process since it came to ruling.
Pointing out that there was a full consensus on EU membership, Erdogan said, ''ruling, opposition, and NGO's developed a joint attitude regarded with EU membership. In case the negotiations start by the end of 2004, Turkey will prepare itself to full membership in the shortest period of time.''
Erdogan said adjustment laws and democratization packages were steps which could not even be imagined in the previous periods, and thanked to the Parliamentarians.
Erdogan said very serious regulation changes had been made within the framework of adjustment laws to the EU, adding that joint efforts should be exerted to implement those laws and not to remain them on paper.
Erdogan said great importance was attributed to the improvement of human rights in this respect.
Prime Minister Erdogan said human rights violations like torture, missing, death under custody, and secret killings decreased very much.
''Reducing those negative activities to zero is almost impossible in any country. However our target is zero tolerance to human rights violations. We are searching for cooperation facilities among other political parties and NGOs to overcome deficiencies in the field of basical rights and freedoms,'' Erdogan noted.
Erdogan called on the citizens to be more sensitive to protect their rights and search for their rights through legal means.
Erdogan said being a contemporary state and society depended on nation's protecting and developing those rights.
He said Turkey would base its laws to principles of universal justice and human rights, be a legal state in real sense, and gain a respectable place in the international society.
''IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO REMAIN SILENT TO THOSE HAPPENING IN OUR REGION''
Pointing out that Turkey overcame Iraq War with the minimum loss and by increasing its esteem, Erdogan said Turkey's economic and political position was not damaged.
Erdogan said, ''storm has ended but problems have not ended,'' stating that Turkey should determine the steps it would take according to the developing conditions.
Erdogan said it was impossible for Turkey to remain silent or ignore those happening in the region, and noted that they should do what the interests of the nation and state required. Erdogan said nobody should have doubts that the government takes the most realistic and appropriate steps to protect national interests.
He said Turkey did its best to provide and develop peace, stability, welfare and democracy in the world and in the region.
Stating that economic program was under implementation with determination, Erdogan said strong finance policies continued. He said measures which had been taken to reduce state borrowings also continued with determination.
Erdogan said developments in rate of inflation were also positive, noting that wholesale prices and consumer prices reduced in the past two months.
Prime Minister Erdogan pointed out that International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board of Directors completed fifth review on August 1, and that they released 500 million U.S. dollars credit. He said those developments were the sign of confidence and support of the international institutions to our economy policies.
Prime Minister Erdogan said a very important step was taken with Reassociation Law, stating that everybody should take a lesson from this.
Erdogan said they considered Reassociation Law as a necessary step for tranquility in the region, stressing that they wanted to give a new chance to those who did not get involved in terrorism, who did not kill anybody, and who repented.
Erdogan said, ''we should prepare an atmosphere which is secure for our people in economic, social and political sense. Our government implements projects to reduce social and economic differences particularly in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia region.''
(AY) 08.08.2003