ERDOGAN WILL PROCEED TO GERMANY FROM FRANCE TO MEET GERMAN CHANCELLOR
ISTANBUL - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that, ''we will call on Germany, which has so far expended support to Turkey in European Union (EU) process, to continue this support in 2004 December process.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan left for Paris to watch Sureyya Ayhan who will compete in women's 1,500 meters final in the 9th World Athletics Championships. Erdogan will later proceed to Germany.
Erdogan said this would be his first official visit to Germany as Prime Minister.
Erdogan said he would have meetings about EU and the Turkish workers in Germany, stating that he would also meet with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Foreign Minister Joscka Fisher.
Erdogan said he would also meet with German Christian Democrat Party leader.
Erdogan is scheduled to participate in inauguration ceremony of office of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD) in Berlin, stating that he would also meet with representatives of Turkish associations and participate in a meeting which will jointly be held by MUSIAD and Turkish businessmen.
Stressing that relations between Turkey and Germany were stemming from history, Erdogan said workers who had gone to Germany from Turkey particularly in 1960's further strengthened ties. He said there were currently 2,5 million Turkish citizens in Germany, and noted that around 600 thousand of them were German citizens. Erdogan said, ''I don't think that there is an integration problem.''
Erdogan said he would discuss with Schroeder the four adjustment packages which were passed from the Parliament so far in EU process.
Erdogan is expected to return to Turkey on September 3.
(AY) 31.08.2003