ANKARA - German Federal Parliament Foreign Affairs Commission Chairman Volker Ruhe met on Monday with Ahmet Yasar, the Chairman of Turkish-German Interparliamentary Friendship Group. Iraq, Cyprus and local administrations reform were discussed at the meeting.
Speaking at the meeting, Yasar said members of the Parliament attributed importance to relations with Germany, stating that the Friendship Group was comprised of 117 parliamentarians.
Yasar said Turkey was resolved to be a full member of the European Union (EU), noting that, ''we want to prove that a country, having Moslem identity, could be harmonized with democratic and modern world.''
Yasar said commercial, economic and cultural relations between the two countries improved, noting that more than 50 thousand German citizens were living in Turkey. Yasar said, ''I believe that Germany should support Turkey more in EU full membership process.''
German Federal Parliament Foreign Affairs Commission Chairman Volker Ruhe in his part said relations between Turkey and Germany had strategic importance. Ruhe said he believed that Turkey would play the key role, and that Turkey would be an example country with its Moslem identity and modernism.
Rule said there were six million Moslems in France and three million Moslems in Germany, stating that there were 1,5 billion Moslems in the world. He said in case Turkey's role succeeds, this would be a very important development for all the world.
Stressing the importance of putting into practice the reforms in Turkey, Ruhe said an improvement should be recorded on Cyprus problem in 2004.
Ruhe asked Yasar why an agreement could not be reached on the plan although Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Annan Plan would be taken as basis for the talks that would be carried out on Cyprus. Yasar said, ''I don't know why Cyprus question has not been solved for so many years. This problem should be solved on a joint basis in order not to be an obstacle in front of Turkey's entrance to EU.''
Ruhe, who brought onto agenda Iraq issue, recalled that dispatch of Turkish soldiers to Iraq was under discussion. Ruhe added Turkish soldiers could set up positive relations with Iraqi people.
(AY-AÖ) 15.09.2003