ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul left for Luxembourg to participate in Turkey-EU Partnership Council meeting as well as Intergovernmental Conference. State Minister & Chief Negotiator for EU talks Ali Babacan accompanies Gul during his visit to Luxembourg.
Prior to his departure at Esenboga Airport in Ankara, Gul told reporters that these two meetings(Turkey-EU Partnership Council meeting and Intergovernmental Conference) were different from each other.
Noting that Partnership Council was the most effective platform between Turkey and EU, Gul said that the 45th of this meeting would be held today.
Gul underlined that after the decision was made on start of accession talks between Turkey and EU, the screening process continued with great success, stating that talks on the 23rd chapter would start today.
"The process is going well. I believe that the (screening) process will end by October 2006," he stressed.
Gul indicated that it was not easy for 25 EU member states to approve a common position document, stating that the process had ups and downs as well as difficulties.
"We aim to be a full member of the EU. Certain decisions have been made on this matter. Our government is determined to fulfill its tasks. We are continuing the reform process attentively. We will not take any backward step or slow down this process," he noted.
Recalling that the ninth reform package was submitted to the parliament, Gul said that the parliament was working hard to enact this package before summer recess.