IZMIR - Denis MacShane, the Minister for Europe of the British Office of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, said on Wednesday that Britain supported Turkey's accession to the European Union (EU) and stated that Europe could not fully complete itself without Turkey.
Delivering a speech at a conference entitled, ''Britain, Turkey and the EU'', MacShane said that Turkey would make many contributions to Europe with its young population and geography.
MacShane said that Britain attached great importance to Turkey and stated that they considered an angle of Turkey in every issue including; Iraq issue, Caucasia and restructuring of NATO. MacShane stressed that Britain supported Turkey's accession to the EU.
MacShane said that Turkey's appropriateness to the EU was approved in 1999 Helsinki Summit by announcing Turkey a candidate country. MacShane said that there was a single criterion of being European and it was Copenhagen Criteria and added that Turkey's history was Europe's history.
MacShane said that Turkey recorded great progresses on adjustment to the EU especially during the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government and but, adding that long and difficult European journey did not end for Turkey yet.
MacShane said that if reforms also continued in implementation, EU would launch Turkey's membership process in 2004.
Stating that Cyprus issue was not a precondition for Turkey's membership to the Union, MacShane said that but, if a solution was found in Cyprus, it would contribute to whole Cyprus including Turkish Cypriot people's joining the EU and Turkey's getting a date in December.
(EÖ-AY) 14.01.2004