Erdogan Evaluates Inclusion Of Cyprus Issue In Progress Report

ERDOGAN: NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO BRING ANYTHING THAT DOES NOT EXIST IN COPENHAGEN CRITERIA, IN FRONT OF TURKEY

ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday evaluated inclusion of Cyprus issue, which did not exist in Copenhagen criteria, in European Union (EU)'s Progress Report about Turkey and said, ''nobody has the right to bring anything, which does not exist, in front of Turkey.''
Erdogan met with Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja.
Stressing that Finland expended full support to Turkey in its full membership process to the EU, Erdogan said they were pleased over this and that they were sure that this support would continue.
Erdogan said they wanted economic cooperation between the two countries to be improved, noting that there were necessary conditions for Finnish investors to come to Turkey.
Erdogan said there were 4,500 Turkish citizens living in Finland, adding that they attributed importance to adaptation of those people to Finland and solution of their problems.
Erdogan said, ''we are sensitive on terrorism. We want a joint action platform to be set up against international terrorism. We expect Finland to include terrorist organization, which changed its name from PKK to KADEK, to its list of terrorist organizations. Terrorism does not have religion, language and nation. We should altogether work to eradicate terrorism.''
Cyprus issue was also taken up at the meeting.
Erdogan said Progress Report which the EU issued about Turkey was constructive and that Turkey's expectations were met. Erdogan said Turkey would fulfill what was necessary for practice stage till December 2004.
Erdogan said, ''what Turkey had done last year proved what it would do in the future. Most of what EU expected from Turkey were met,'' stressing that EU member countries should act justly and take a decision to set a date for Turkey to start full membership negotiations.
Pointing out that Cyprus issue was not included among Copenhagen criteria in Turkey's EU membership process, Erdogan said, ''we expect a just and lasting solution by basing on this. However, a de facto situation is in question on article about Cyprus.''
Erdogan said Cyprus issue was not among the Copenhagen political criteria, noting that, ''nobody has the right to bring anything which does not exist, in front of Turkey.''
Tuomioja in his part said from the very beginning they pointed out that Turkey should be a full member of the EU on condition that it meets political criteria.
Tuomioja said they were pleased to see that the new government recorded incredible progress on EU membership, noting that they thought a date should be set for Turkey in December 2004 to start full membership negotiations and that Turkey was ready for this.
Tuomioja said EU was not intended to add a new criterion to Copenhagen criteria, stressing that Cyprus question had to be solved before Turkey becomes an EU member.
Tuomioja said they knew sensitivity of Turkey on terrorism.
(AY) 06.11.2003