ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that Norway was one of the countries which Turkey had close cooperation in utilization of oil and natural resources of Caspian Basin and transportation of products to foreign world.
Erdogan and Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik held a joint press conference after presiding meetings between Turkish and Norwegian delegations.
Prime Minister Erdogan said that Bondevik was a friend of Turkey from Norway who paid the first official visit to Turkey and expressed pleasure with that.
Erdogan noted that Turkey and Norway were two allies and friendly countries and they saw that they were in a consensus of opinion to further improve relations.
Stating that bilateral relations were developing, Erdogan said that however, they were away from reflecting the real potential.
Erdogan stated that they debated initiatives to be launched to further improve relations and agreed to exert concerted efforts.
They determined new cooperation opportunities in energy between two countries in their meeting, Erdogan pointed out.
Erdogan said that Energy and Natural Resources Minister could visit Norway in the following period.
''Norway is one of countries with which we have close cooperation in utilization of natural gas and oil resources of Caspian Basin and transportation of their products to foreign markets. Norwegian companies are interested in Turkish natural gas market. We will continue our cooperation in these fields. Norway is a country where about 12 thousand Turkish citizens are living and around 7 thousand 500 of which have become Norwegian citizens,'' Erdogan said.
Erdogan noted, ''we are pleased to hear that our citizens living there do not have any problems in integration. And, we have stated that we are ready for every kind of cooperation in case of any problems stemming from integration.''
They informed Bondevik about problems that Turkish citizens were facing in getting visa from Norway, which was included in the Schengen system, Erdogan pointed out.
Erdogan quoted Bondevik as saying that they would help Turkey overcome those problems.
Noting that they also took up European Union (EU) issues with Bondevik, Erdogan pointed out that Norway was not an EU member, but it had close cooperation with EU member countries within the framework of Agreement on the European Economic Area.
Erdogan said that Norway had problems with enlargement and they exchanged views about that in their meeting.
They informed Bondevik about Turkey's initiatives on the road to EU membership, Erdogan noted.
Erdogan stated that Turkey and Norway were NATO members over 50 years. On one hand, NATO was enlarging, on the other hand, there was an evolution in NATO in line with needs and expectations of members and the region, he said.
Erdogan noted that they reviewed NATO-EU relations in regard to Euro-Atlantic relations and defense and security.
They exchanged views about terrorism which Turkey had suffered much and fight against terrorism, Erdogan said.
Erdogan stated that they also debated Iraq process, Middle East and Palestinian-Israeli dispute.
Noting that an opportunity was seized for solution of Israeli-Palestinian dispute in a meeting held in Oslo, Erdogan said, ''we want bloodshed in this region to stop. We wish that the process there will end.'
Erdogan said that Turkish and Norwegian security departments decided to support technical meetings on cooperation launched in training of police in Central Asia and the Caucasus.
Recalling that 100 thousand Norwegian tourists visited Turkey this year, Erdogan said that they also took up efforts to increase that number.
ERDOGAN: ''THERE IS NOT ANY CRITERION CALLED AS CYPRUS IN COPENHAGEN POLITICAL CRITERIA, THUS WE SHOULD NOT CONFOUND OUR IMPLEMENTATIONS WITH THIS ISSUE''
Erdogan said that there was not any criterion called as Cyprus in Copenhagen political criteria and stated that it should not be confounded with current implementations. He added that they would continue to assume their positive attitude which they assumed so far till May 1.
When a Norwegian reporter asked what kind of cooperation two countries would make in the Middle East, Erdogan said that there were many fields in which the two countries could make cooperation not only in the Middle East, but also in third countries. Erdogan said that there were joint cooperation fields in Caucasus and Iraq.
When another Norwegian reporter asked whether or not a cooperation in police training which would be made between security organizations of the two countries in the Middle East and Caucasus would contribute to Turkey's accession to the European Union (EU), Erdogan said that they did not have any thought that this cooperation would contribute Turkey's accession to the Union.
When the same reporter said that there was an increase in crimes which were committed by police and asked how he evaluated this issue, Erdogan said, ''it is an internal problem in Turkey. Turkey has overcome those things with adjustment laws. Those are very serious and positive developments. I think you cannot follow those kinds of developments as the way we do.'' When a reporter said, ''Turkey's EU membership was connected with Cyprus question in the progress report which was announced on Wednesday although it was also said that it was not a political criterion. You will go to Cyprus on November 15. What kind of a road map is foreseen for solution of the issue till May 1?'' Erdogan said that Turkey was appreciated on adjustment laws in the report and stated that the government has started to take steps on implementation of those laws. He added that the government would develop and take those steps with determination till December 2004.
Stating that a link with Cyprus issue was tried to be established, Erdogan said, ''we are in an effort to fulfil our commitments. Because there is not such a criterion in Copenhagen criteria, we should not confound our implementations with this issue. We continue to display our positive attitude. Besides, the EU countries know very clearly our thoughts and attitude on the issue. We will carry on our struggle in favor of a fair and lasting solution till the very end.''
Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik said that the reforms in jurisdiction and the tolerance towards use of minority languages were positive developments, however, there were many things to do by Turkey.
Noting that the issue of human rights was brought onto agenda of his meeting with Prime Minister Erdogan, Bondevik noted that there had been a positive improvement in southeastern part of Turkey, calling on Turkey to combine its achievements with political reforms.
Describing the reforms in jurisdiction and the tolerance towards use of minority languages as positive developments, Prime Minister Bondevik pointed out that Turkey, however, should do many things more.
Noting that Turkey and Norway had some certain joint security problems like terrorism, Prime Minister Bondevik stressed that eradication of roots of terrorism was of vital importance.
Highlighting importance of education and inter-religious dialogue, Prime Minister Bondevik emphasized that affection, respect and tolerance were the common aspects of all religious beliefs.
Indicating that they had exchanged views over developments in Iraq, Central Asia, Afghanistan and the Middle East, Prime Minister Bondevik drew attention to the possibility of setting up cooperation between Turkey and Norway in these regions.
Recalling that Turkey and Norway were willing to cooperate with each other in training of their police units, Prime Minister Bondevik said that Turkey could play a leading role in settlement of stability in the region.
Referring to the Iraqi issue, Prime Minister Bondevik reminded that Norway had not extended support to the war in Iraq, adding that their participation in the U.S.-led stability force aimed at assisting Iraqi people in rebuilding process of their country and making a contribution to settlement of stability.
Stressing that Turkey and Norway had shared the same opinions about the Middle East process, Prime Minister Bondevik emphasized that the relevant sides should be encouraged under the road map in order to overcome the current deadlock in the peace process. He referred to possible contribution of Turkey and Norway to resumption of the peace process.
Bondevik told reporters that they expected the United States to undertake more influential commitments for the peace process.
Referring to bilateral relations between Turkey and Norway, Prime Minister Bondevik noted that there were good relations between the two allied countries, adding that the current level of bilateral relations should be further increased.
Stressing that there were significant opportunities of cooperation between the two countries in energy, Prime Minister Bondevik expressed their support to Turkey's initiatives of liberalizing its energy market.
Recalling that a leading oil company of Norway was among partners of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project, Prime Minister Bondevik told reporters that the company had pledged that the project would be completed successfully in planned time.
(UK-AÖ) 06.11.2003