Foreign Minister Gul Says His Visit To Sweden Is A Visit Paid On Time

STOKHOLM - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said early on Thursday that his visit to Sweden was a visit paid on time.
Gul told Turkish reporters that Swedish Foreign Minister Laila Freidvals found a Turkish file in front of her as she took over the office.
He had a prompt and very fruitful meeting with his Swedish counterpart, Gul said.
Gul noted, ''thus, the Swedish Foreign Minister allocated time to Turkey without allocating time to many other issues. She has closely seen Turkey's issues.''
Besides bilateral relations, economic issues and regional issues like Iraq's future were taken up, they also debated European Union (EU) membership process, Gul stated.
Gul expressed belief that they explained Turkey's position very well.
They expressed Turkey's views about 2003 Progress Report and had the opportunity to explain Cyprus issue in their meeting, Gul pointed out.
Gul said that reforms in Turkey and EU process were also on agenda of their meeting.
Noting that Swedish side openly extended support to those reforms, Gul said, ''they can see how extraordinary the things that have been done. They are aware of everything.''
(BRC-AÖ) 20.11.2003