ISTANBUL - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that he saw that all leaders and prime ministers whom he met in Brussels were excited about Turkey's European Union (EU) membership process.
Erdogan held a press conference in Istanbul after he had returned from his visits to Belgium, Spain and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Prime Minister Erdogan said that heads of state, prime ministers and foreign ministers of 28 countries attended EU summit in Brussels and views especially about constitutional works were expressed during the summit.
Erdogan noted that initiatives regarding economy and security were reviewed in the meeting held in the level of foreign ministers.
He had the opportunity to discuss the intergovernmental conference and constitutional works in his bilateral meetings, Erdogan pointed out.
Erdogan said that he attended a forum on Barcelona process in Mallorca island of Spain following his contacts in Brussels and noted that the forum was also attended by about 80 former politicians and scientists from several countries.
Recalling that he had a long meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar in Mallorca, Erdogan said they took up EU process and double taxation.
Erdogan said, ''also, Aznar expressed their demand to invest in Turkey and said that they were ready to take serious steps.''
He stopped in Sarajevo en route from Mallorca to Turkey to visit former president Alia Izzetbegovic of Bosnia-Herzegovina, who was under medical treatment, Erdogan stated.
Erdogan said, ''I had the opportunity to visit him in hospital. I was pleased to see that Izzetbegovic was recovering each passing day.''
He had the opportunity to have a short meeting with Adnan Terzic, the Chairman of Council of Ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Erdogan stated.
Erdogan emphasized that he and Terzic expressed common will to further improve bilateral relations in their meeting.
(BRC) 19.10.2003