Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said after a cabinet session in Ankara that Türkiye had not eased its pursuit of European Union membership, pushing back against public perception that the government had lost momentum on accession.
The cabinet approved the Ninth Development Plan, which covers 2007 through 2013 and sets fresh targets across all sectors. The document is to be sent to parliament shortly. Cicek described the plan's timeframe as directly relevant to the EU accession timeline.
Cicek highlighted an Accession Partnership Council meeting scheduled for 12 June 2006 as a turning point, saying he expected substantive negotiations to begin around that date. He noted that Turkish institutions and civil society groups had completed preparations during the screening phase, and that draft legislation aligning Türkiye with EU rules was already moving through parliament.
On the economy, Cicek acknowledged recent turbulence, attributing much of the currency volatility to external factors. He said the government would maintain budgetary discipline and press ahead with structural reforms, reaffirming commitment to free-market principles and previously announced economic targets.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in June 2006, in its own words.