Erdogan in Germany

Erdogan: Turkey`s E.U. membership should not be made a tool in German internal politics

BERLIN - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who is currently in Berlin, Germany said on Tuesday that Turkey`s EU membership should not be made a tool in German internal politics.
Speaking in the joint news conference after meeting with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Erdogan said that ``Turkey`s EU membership should not be made a tool in German internal politics. Our 2.5 million Turkish people who live in Germany are very sorry for that. We appreciate the German government`s support to the EU membership of Turkey. I hope German policy will not change.`` Noting that Turkey would never forget the support of Germany in that regard, Erdogan said that ``there is a certain programme to start membership negotiations. I hope negotiations will start in 2004. We adopted four important reform packages in nine months. The support of Germany eases our task.``
Erdogan remarked that they took up in details the Iraqi issue during the meeting, adding that ``it is our mission to end the fire in the neighbouring country. We provide all sort of humanitarian aid to Iraq and it is transported by lorries. We also started construction of two hospitals in Iraq. We discussed what we could do to improve the infrastructure of Iraq. Turkey does its best in this framework.``
Noting that they had also taken up the Middle East issue, Erdogan said that they had discussed what could be done to eliminate existing difficulties, adding that they could not remain silent against terrorism. He said that they should form an international platform against terrorism and they should establish a joint consciousness against it.
Schroeder said that they had taken up the extradition of Metin Kaplan, the administrator of the Union of Islamic Communities and Societies (ICCB), whose deportation was cancelled by Cologne Administrative Court. He added, ``we think what we can do about this issue together with Interior Minister Otto Schily. We think that not extraditing Kaplan cannot be acceptable. We will think about what we can do about it and we will apply to an upper office.``
Noting that they also discussed international issues, the condition in Iraq and Afghanistan and Turkey`s membership to the European Union (EU), Schroeder said, ``I told Erdogan that we will continue our support. Former governments had always supported Turkey`s membership to EU. We cannot waste these expectations. Turkey`s EU membership is necessary both in geopolitical aspect and in the aspect of Germany`s national interests.``
Schroeder criticized the attitude of opposition parties in Turkey`s EU membership and said that opposition parties were against Turkey`s EU membership due to their self-interest. He added that he was against this issue to be made an inner policy tool.
Noting that they were not only fighting against terrorism in Afghanistan, Schroeder said that they also contributed to the rebuilding of the country. He added, ``in spite of our attitude against war together with Turkey, we also talked with Erdogan what we can do to provide stability in Iraq.``
Schroeder also congratulated Erdogan due to reforms in Turkey and said that he appreciated the reforms in Turkey and added that these reforms would have important contribution to the path to EU.
ERDOGAN: ``WE CONSIDER EU AS A WHOLE OF POLITICAL VALUES``
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that they considered the European Union (EU) as a whole of political values.
Erdogan replied questions of reporters during the joint news conference held after his meeting with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
When a German reporter asked what he was thinking about the view that Turkey should not enter EU as it was belonging to a different cultural circle, Erdogan said that EU was not a Christian club or a geographical unity and added that they considered EU as a whole of political values.
Noting that cultures should not clash with each other, Erdogan said, ``meeting of civilizations should be realized under the umbrella of Europe. EU should be an address where civilizations reach consensus.``
Upon a question regarding the court decision on the cancellation of extradition of Metin Kaplan, the administrator of the Union of Islamic Communities and Societies (ICCB), Erdogan said that there was nothing to say due to the principle of independence of judgement, but there were legal steps to be taken from now on. He added that interior ministers of two countries would meet in a short time to discuss the issue.
When asked what he would do about the attitude of opposition party regarding Turkey`s EU membership, Schroeder said that Turkish people confided in German policy and they could not disappoint Turkish people. He added that the time for starting membership negotiations with Turkey was related with Progress Report.
Noting that steps, which were supporting harmony in Germany with laws, were taken, Schroeder said, ``220 thousand Turkish people have become German citizens with new laws since 2000. This shows how integration is taken seriously. Erdogan expressed clearly that he wanted to help in the issue of integration. I am very pleased with that.``
When asked whether relations would be affected if Turkey dispatches soldiers to Iraq, Schroeder said that this was a sovereign decision of Turkish government and they should respect it.
ERDOGAN RECEIVES GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER FISCHER
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan received on Tuesday German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer at Berlin`s Hilton Hotel.
Following the meeting which lasted for nearly an hour, Erdogan told reporters that he also discussed issues which he took up with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder with Fischer and stated that he invited Fischer to Turkey.
Stating that Fischer expressed his sincerity on support to Turkey`s accession to the European Union (EU), Erdogan quoted Fischer as saying that their support would continue.
Erdogan said that the situation in Iraq was also discussed in the meeting and stated that he said in the meeting that European countries should also launch initiatives for the United Nations (U.N.) to play a more active role in Iraq.
Erdogan will attend a reception on the occasion of opening of Berlin office of Turkish Industrialists` and Businessmen`s Association (TUSIAD) the same day.
Erdogan reminded reporters that a Turkish delegation had visited Iraq, adding that ``Iraq could be a very serious terrorism center under current conditions. People can do anything because of poverty. Water, electricity and infrastructure services are insufficient. People are preferring even Saddam regime. If we decide to go to Iraq, we will go there to provide water, electricity, infrastructure and health services and to contribute to prosperity of Iraqi people. We will not go there as gendarme force of anybody.``
Erdogan said he conveyed Fischer that he wanted Turkish citizens to be integrated with German society and assimilation and integration should not be confused with each other in the meeting with representatives of Turkish associations. He added that he also informed Fischer regarding the European Union (EU) adjustment packages and he was expecting positive expressions about Turkey in 2003 progress report after these positive developments.
Erdogan wanted Turkey`s EU membership not to be used as a domestic policy tool in Germany. He said, ``there are people who see EU only as a cultural unity, a Christian unity, a geographical unity and an economic unity. However, this is a civilization project for us and an important success will be provided with Turkey`s membership to EU. Also, it will reflect positively to the view of Muslims of the world about EU.``
Fischer said that making the issue as a domestic policy tool in Germany was of no use any more and added that they appreciated Turkey`s efforts. He said, ``Turkey will be a member of EU as a modern Islamic country. This is our target. Your government`s success in implementing the reforms will be an example to other Islamic countries.``
Fischer said regarding Cyprus issue that EU process would be an important opportunity for the solution for Cyprus issue.
Erdogan said that Turkey took concrete steps for the solution of this issue, but the other side did not take a concrete step and did not give a response.
Erdogan later met with Turkish and German tour operators together with Culture and Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu.
Erdogan said following the meeting that tourism was reconstructed in Turkey and a new process started in tourism.
Erdogan called all foreign tour operators for making investment in Turkey and added that they decreased bureaucracy in Turkey.
Erdogan then attended the opening reception of Berlin office of Turkish Industrialists` and Businessmen`s Association (TUSIAD).
(GC-AÖ) 02.09.2003