Türkiye's Justice Minister and government spokesman Cemil Cicek pushed back Monday against perceptions that Ankara had lost momentum in its European Union membership drive, saying the government remained fully committed to the accession process.
Speaking to reporters after a Cabinet session, Cicek announced that the Ninth Development Plan, covering 2007 through 2013, had been signed at the ministerial level and would be forwarded to parliament shortly. He said the plan's timeframe was directly relevant to the EU accession calendar and set new targets across all sectors of the economy.
Cicek pointed to an Accession Partnership Council meeting scheduled for 12 June 2006 as a key milestone, suggesting that substantive negotiations could realistically begin around that date. He added that Turkish institutions and civil society groups had completed their preparations during the screening phase, and that draft legislation aligned with EU rules was already under parliamentary review.
On the economy, the minister acknowledged recent financial turbulence, attributing much of the currency volatility to external factors. He said the government would maintain budget discipline and continue structural reforms, reaffirming its 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.