BERLIN - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who wrapped up his contacts in Germany, departed for Turkey on Wednesday.
Erdogan was accompanied by Culture and Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu during his visit to Germany.
PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN EXPRESSES BELIEF THAT THEY CAN BENEFIT FROM CRITICISMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATIONS IN EU PROCESS
Erdogan said that they could benefit from the criticisms of the human rights associations about Turkey's European Union (EU) process.
Erdogan held a meeting with representatives of human rights associations in Berlin.
Following the meeting, Erdogan said, ''it was a positive meeting. I thank representatives of the associations. I am a person who believes that Turkey should be regarded by different points of view. I believe we can benefit from criticisms made in the EU process.''
Wolfgang Grenz, representative of Amnesty International who attended the meeting, said that they had tried to get an appointment from the Turkish governments so far but they could not succeed in it.
Grenz noted that it seemed that they could manage to get an appointment for the first time and stated that they welcomed reforms in human rights.
There were still deficiencies in fulfillment of new laws in Turkey, Grenz said.
Grenz claimed that human rights were still violated in Turkey and police ''systematically tortured.''
They were pleased with the decision of Erdogan to continue such meetings, Grenz added.
ERDOGAN EXPRESSES BELIEF THAT POLITICAL PARTIES IN GERMANY WILL NOT LEAVE TURKEY ALONE IN EU MEMBERSHIP PROCESS
Erdogan said that they believed that political parties in Germany would not leave Turkey alone in its European Union (EU) membership process.
Erdogan met with Christian Democrat Union (CDU) Party leader Angela Merkel and later held a joint press conference with Merkel.
Stating that they looked at Germany in a different way among other EU member countries, Erdogan said, ''we believe that political parties in Germany will not leave us alone in our EU membership process and we want to believe so. We have been settled in Europe with our 4 million people. Most of these people have become citizens of the countries they are living in. There is an intermingled situation here. If we don't see the assistance we expect, this can disappoint 75 percent of people who support EU membership in Turkey.''
Erdogan noted that he took up mainly the EU process with Merkel and said, ''Turkey's EU membership process is not an issue of 3-5 years. It has almost a 40 years history. Wherever we have reached today is the date given in Copenhagen and it is December 2004.''
Stressing that Turkey would strengthen the EU, Erdogan said, ''I say this depending on economic parameters. Last growth rates indicate that Turkey is ranked the second with 7.4 percent following China with 8.2 percent. There is minus inflation in Turkey in the last four months after 17 years of interval. There is a Turkey where interest rates fall. We have passed four reform packages with the support of parliament, non-governmental organizations and our people in order to meet the Copenhagen criteria. Especially the sixth and seventh adjustment packages are the indicators of the reform of mentality.''
Erdogan wanted the Christian democrats in Germany to support them and said, ''we hope we will understand each other better with the contacts we will continue. My only wish is that Turkey's EU membership should not be made a tool for internal politics in Germany.''
Merkel said that the economic situation of the EU was not suitable to accept Turkey and noted, ''I have said that we appreciated reforms in Turkey. There is a long friendship between the two countries and we want to improve it. But, we should tell the truth. The economic situation of the EU is not suitable to include Turkey. This is not related with Turkey's being a Muslim country.''
Turkey's EU membership should openly be debated, Merkel stated.
Merkel noted, ''this issue should naturally be discussed. It should be taken up with a responsibility and within scope of friendship.''
Erdogan invited her to Turkey, Merkel said and pointed out, ''I want to go to Turkey within first three months of 2004 to deepen relations between CDU and AK Party.''
Merkel stated that she had a positive meeting with Erdogan although there were some difference of opinion and they would continue such meetings.
Asked what she thought about limitations made on weapons export of Turkey, Merkel said, ''both countries are NATO members. We are in fact against limitations made by the coalition in Germany.''
Erdogan later met with representatives of human rights associations.
ERDOGAN CALLS ON TURKS IN GERMANY TO INTEGRATE WITH SOCIETY
Erdogan called Turks living in Germany to get German citizenship and integrate with the German society.
Erdogan spoke in the meeting held upon the 10th anniversary of establishment of Individual Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD) in Germany.
Prime Minister Erdogan, who addressed businessmen working in Germany, thanked them for their contributions to social, cultural, scientific and political fields of Turkey.
Erdogan asked the Turks not to hesitate to become German citizens and added that those Turks would benefit from becoming German citizens.
Drawing attention that economic program and reforms in Turkey had positive impact on bilateral relations between Germany and Turkey, Erdogan said, ''Germany is the only country with which Turkey doesn't have any negativeness in its trade volume. Unfortunately, some negative situation occurs with some other countries. This situation will be better with your efforts and solidarity.''
Erdogan stated that developments in the wake of September 11th terrorist attacks showed that Turkey and Germany shared common views and added, ''we expect German government's support for our European Union (EU) membership. We wish our German friends to continue support for opening of Turkey's full membership negotiations at the end of 2004. But, we don't want Turkey's EU accession to be made a tool for internal politics in Germany. Turkey will strengthen the EU, and it won't be a burden.''
Recalling that Turkey was sometimes criticized by EU countries, Erdogan said that the EU was not an economic formation and if it was a political formation, Turkey should take its place in that political formation.
Erdogan noted that Turkey's EU accession would make a significant contribution to world peace and added, ''it will be the address of meeting of civilizations, not conflict of civilizations. Turkey, a country where democracy and Islam co-exists, will be a model for 1.5 billion Muslims in the world.''
Emphasizing that Turkey was a strong country, Erdogan said, ''a party came to the power on its own on November 3. And, it came to the power with a two-third majority. Such a nation can only be respected and served. We came to power to serve our nation.''
Stating that economic developments in Turkey were pleasing, Erdogan said that there had been minus inflation in Turkey since three months and Turkey was on the right track.
Erdogan said that Turkey was a ''heaven of investments'' and added that they would lift obstacles before investments with new laws.
ERDOGAN SAYS GOVERNMENT'S MAIN MISSION IS TO BOOST TOURISM SECTOR
Erdogan said that the main mission of the government would be boosting the tourism sector.
Erdogan met with 18 Turkish and German tour operators together with Minister of Culture and Tourism Erkan Mumcu.
Noting that tour operators were the basic actors of tourism sector, Erdogan said that ''I believe that we will record more progress in tourism sector by making cooperation with you.''
Erdogan remarked that tourism revenue brought approximately 12 billion dollars to Turkey, adding that tourism constituted 27 percent of the total export inputs and that it was the sector which grew dynamically and fast.
Erdogan said that the government brought amendments to tourism encouragement law in a reformist manner. Erdogan stated that tourism cities would be formed with a modern understanding.
Erdogan stated that they expected tour operators to lead new and different investments and managements, adding that ''we, as the government, try to carry out studies in economic and commercial fields under the leadership of the private sector. And we regard you as our partners in tourism field.''
''In the coming decade, Turkey will increase demand for its tourism with an annual growth rate of 10.2 percent. Turkey will be again the country which will increase its tourism investments the most,'' Erdogan said.
Tour operators said in their part that concrete buildings in coast cities decreased the value of tourism investments, adding that the construction between Antalya-Alanya highway had to be finished as soon as possible.
ERDOGAN: ''TURKEY'S EFFORTS FOR WESTERNIZATION DATES BACK TO OLDER TIMES''
Erdogan said that Turkey's efforts for westernization dated back to older times.
Erdogan delivered a speech on ''New Reforms-Is Turkey on the Path to the European Union (EU)'' in a meeting held by Friedrich Ebert Foundation and Turkish Researches Center (TAM).
Erdogan said, ''although legal beginning of Turkey-EU relations goes back to 40 years ago, Turkey's efforts for westernization dates back to older times.''
Emphasizing that Ottoman Empire was the first Muslim country which formed representative institutions by adopting a constitution in 1876, Erdogan said that a comprehensive transformation occurred with the declaration of Republic in 1923.
Erdogan said that Europe model was taken as example in this process and added, ''thus, Turkey is not unfamiliar with the issue of adjustment to Europe law and it is possible to say that it is a beneficial experience in EU membership process.''
Noting that the values that Turkey adopted were those which Western democracies took as basis, Erdogan said, ''for this reason, Turkey has been interested in the efforts to form a united Europe from the beginning.''
Erdogan said that Turkey's application to the European Economic Community on July 31, 1959 was not surprising due to those reasons, adding that the real transformation took place with Helsinki summit held in December, 1999.
Noting that an irreversible process on the way to full membership started with the Association Agreement signed in Ankara in 1963, Erdogan said that Turkey's perspective of accessing the EU was later confirmed in all summits.
Erdogan said that Turkey's efforts to fulfill Copenhagen political and economic criteria were praised, adding that a decision was taken saying that ''if Copenhagen criteria are met, membership negotiations with Turkey will start without any delay'' although it remained behind Turkey's expectations.
Erdogan stated that he was also pleased with Turkey's being invited to Thessaloniki summit with other candidate countries as observer under equal conditions, adding that ''this decision was positively perceived by the Turkish public opinion and it encouraged the reform process in Turkey. Turkey moves on the way to EU with resolution.''
Erdogan said that the government targeted having an EU decision at the end of the 2004 at the latest to start membership negotiations with Turkey. Erdogan added that the national programme which was published a short time ago was also prepared in that regard.
''In this framework, Turkey made comprehensive constitutional amendments which strengthen and take under guarantee the basic rights and freedoms, democracy, supremacy of law, protection of human rights, and it adopted a new civil law, seven adjustment packages and comprehensive reforms which were revolutionary in character,'' Erdogan said.
(GC-Öª-AÖ) 03.09.2003