ROME - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday that they were preparing Turkey for the European Union (EU) to the end of 2004.
Replying questions of reporters at Turkish Embassy in Rome, Gul said, ''we are preparing Turkey for EU membership to the end of 2004. The only criteria is Copenhagen political criteria. We adopted decisions at Parliament. The whole Europe will also see when we fulfill them. We are making reforms as Turkish people deserve them.''
Touching on relations with Italy, Gul said, ''Italian administration has close interest in Turkey. Term president Italy in EU process is one of the countries with which we have the best relations. This stems from the good level of economic relations.''
When asked whether decision of Supreme Court of Appeals about Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) was brought onto agenda during his contacts in Belgium, Gul said that EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen had asked him this issue and that he explained the issue clearly. He added that he did not think the decision would have a result that would affect elections and also it would not affect EU process. Noting that if an obligation was in question, political instability would not happen in Turkey because the support of public opinion to government was increasing and if any election was in question, everything would continue without any problem.
(GC-AY) 30.09.2003