ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday hosted lunch in honor of Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla of Czech Republic.
Speaking before the lunch, Erdogan said this visit, which was paid after long years, would contribute to further improvement of cooperation between the two friendly and ally countries having similar views on various international issues.
Erdogan said there was not any problem between the two countries, noting that joint efforts should be exerted in organizations like NATO and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in solution of problems in the Balkans, Middle East, and Caucasus.
Expressing pleasure over bilateral relations gaining momentum since 1989, Erdogan said Czech Republic would be a member of European Union (EU) on May 1, 2004, stating that, ''Turkey and Czech Republic will cooperate in issues extending from defense to economy and foreign policy when Turkey becomes a full member of the EU in the next enlargement wave.''
Erdogan also expressed pleasure over improvement of economic and trade relations.
Czech Prime Minister Spidla, in his part, said they were pleased with efforts of Turkey to integrate with joint Europe, and noted they appreciated the steps taken by Turkey.
Spidla said he believed that Turkey belonged to Europe both in historical and geographical sense, and noted that a Europe without Turkey would absolutely be more different and poor.
Spidla said Turkey was a country in which different cultures and religions met, noting that Turkey would further enrich Turkey.
(AY-BRC) 02.10.2003