ROME - European Union (EU)-Turkey meeting started in Italian capital Rome on Tuesday.
Foreign Minister Franco Frattini of current EU term president Italy, Foreign Minister Brian Cowen of next EU term president Ireland, EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana, EU Commissioner Guenter Verheugen for Enlargement, and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul are in attendance at the meeting.
During the meeting, the sides are expected to exchange views on international issues, especially on Iraq and Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Turkey's EU membership process tops agenda of the meeting.
The sides meet for the first time after release of the Progress Report by the EU Commission last week.
During the meeting, Gul is expected to emphasize that Turkey was determined in implementations in its EU membership process.
As for the Cyprus question, Gul will tell his European counterparts that Turkey was ready to launch a new initiative to find a solution to the Cyprus question. He will ask them to call on the Greek Cypriot side to expend efforts for a compromise.
The meeting will continue at a luncheon.
Participants of the meeting will hold a joint press conference later in the day.
(UK-AÖ) 11.11.2003