ANKARA - German Federal Parliament Foreign Affairs Commission Chairman Volker Ruhe said that Turkey was about to take a very important decision and stated that this decision was whether or not it would participate in formation of stability in Iraq.
Ruhe attended a forum entitled, ''developments in foreign and security policies in the Middle East after Iraq War,'' organized by Konrad Adenauer Foundation and Turkish Democracy Foundation.
Ruhe said that the decision which would be taken by Turkey would be important not only for Turkey but also for other countries.
Stating that he considered wrong dissolution of Iraqi army, Ruhe said that they did not dissolve army of East Germany after West Germany and East Germany were united, but they only dismissed high ranking military officials.
Upon a question, Ruhe said that sale of weapons did not cause the war, but political tension caused it and stated that stability and balance was very important.
Upon another question on sale of Leopard tanks to Turkey, Ruhe said that he discussed the issue with National Defense Minister Gonul. Ruhe quoted Gonul as saying that Turkey did not have any demands on this issue. Ruhe stated that conditions changed and added that a different one from the decision which had been made on sale of tanks to Turkey could be taken.
Stating that Turkey was very important strategically, Ruhe said that the new government took very bold steps on Copenhagen criteria and reforms. He added that those were steps which had not been taken earlier.
Ruhe said that passing laws from the parliament was the first step and the important thing was to implement those laws and noted that he would have information on this issue during his visit to Southeastern Anatolia region.
Stating that if the Progress Report on Turkey which would be announced by the European Commission in 2004 was positive, membership negotiation process would start with Turkey, Ruhe said that he hoped that Cyprus issue would be solved before the report.
Ruhe said that Cyprus issue approached a solution, but it could not been solved and caused disappointment.
Noting that Germany's attitude on Turkey's accession to the EU was clear, Ruhe said that Christian Democrat Unity and Christian Social Union Party (CDU/CSU) of which he was a member was not against Turkey's membership to the Union. He added that Turkey could be a member of EU when it complied with criteria which all EU members had to obey.
Pointing out that the negotiations could last long, he recalled that the talks with France lasted 7 years.
Noting that almost 60 percent of people in Germany is against Turkey's membership, he said there were people who thought the number of members increased too much even after 7th member.
He also said Syria's and Iraq's being a neighbor to the EU does not constitute a problem.
(EÖ-AÖ) 16.09.2003