BRESCIA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Saturday that they would give the message to the European Union (EU) that Turkey had fulfilled its responsibility and would continue to do so.
Gul arrived in Brescia, Italy to attend the second day meetings of the unofficial meeting of EU foreign ministers.
Speaking to reporters on the plane, Gul said that the meeting in Riva del Garda was the first EU foreign ministers meeting held after the seventh adjustment package had been passed in Turkey and added that he would give information about reforms in Turkey.
Noting that he would explain Turkey's plans for 2003-2004 EU process, Gul said that he would also express Turkey's expectations from EU.
When asked what kind of message he would give to EU in the meeting, Gul said that he would give the message that Turkey had fulfilled its responsibilities and would continue to do so.
Noting that Iraq issue would also be taken up during his contacts, Gul said that Turkey was the neighbor of Iraq and it was taking into consideration EU perspective in Iraq issue. He added that EU was interested in Turkey's taking the decision on sending soldiers to Iraq in a democratic process instead of whether or not it sent soldiers to Iraq.
Upon a question on customs union framework agreement signed between Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Gul said that the agreement was related with enforcement of EU standards in TRNC.
Gul said that the agreement was signed to make TRNC record progress beforehand in case Cyprus entered EU as a whole.
Gul said that he would have meetings with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer and French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin during the meetings.
(GC-BRC) 06.09.2003