GUL: TURKEY WILL BE READY TO START NEGOTIATIONS IN 2004 AS IT WAS DECIDED AT COPENHAGEN SUMMIT IN 2002

ISTANBUL - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday that Turkey would be ready to start European Union (EU) membership negotiations in 2004 as it had been decided at the Copenhagen Summit in 2002.
Gul and European Commission President Romano Prodi had luncheon. EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen, Istanbul Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna, Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) chairman Tuncay Ozilhan and other high-ranking officials attended the luncheon.
Gul and Prodi held a joint press conference after the luncheon.
Recalling that Prodi was the first European Commission President to visit Turkey since 1963 when the Ankara Agreement was signed, Gul said, ''his visit is late, but meaningful. Because we entered a very critical period in relations between Turkey and EU. Turkey, EU and also people are aware of it.''
Stressing that Turkey knew well what should be done to be a full member of the Union, Gul said that many things were done to reach this goal, but there were also things to be done.
Gul said, ''our government is determined to do these. I hope that EU will continue to support us as it has done so far. Turkey will be ready to start negotiations in 2004 as it was decided at the Copenhagen summit in 2002. There were very beneficial meetings between Mr. Prodi, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. I hope that this visit will speed up the process.''
Prodi said that they, as the Commission, were very pleased with progress in Turkey.
Stating that they were very pleased with Turkey's reforms on adjustment to Copenhagen criteria, Prodi said that Turkey was moving with remarkable speed on the right path.
Stressing that implementation was also very important for adjustment to Copenhagen criteria, Prodi recalled that the Commission would prepare a report including its recommendations nine months later. He underlined that recommendations would be related to only Copenhagen criteria. Prodi said that they would not assess economic performance of Turkey.
Prodi said that they would not put anything concerning the Cyprus issue in the report and stated that of course, settlement of an agreement in Cyprus would create necessary political environment and it would also make easier for heads of government and state to take their necessary decisions.
Stating that the report would be objective and would be based on facts, Prodi said that they would not put any other issues and problems in the report.
Upon a question what Turkey could do more about Cyprus issue, Prodi said that the issue was not 'what Turkey could do more or not', adding that there was a clear plan, that was, Annan's plan and the Commission was supporting it.
Stressing that it was a U.N. plan and U.N. was an organization which made necessary studies on finding solution to such situations, Prodi said that they started with Annan's plan and the Commission would provide every type of support if two sides reached a consensus and asked for a change.
When asked whether the report of commission would include a date regarding Turkey's starting negotiations, Prodi said that the Commission only made recommendations and the decision would be taken by the EU Council. He added that the Commission only made analysis and submitted report to the Council, not make recommendations about any decision to be taken.
Upon a question whether they put pressure on Greek Cypriot side as well about Cyprus issue, Prodi said that the issue was expressed during his meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday and he added that they put the same pressure on Greek Cypriots as well.
Upon a question regarding the court decision which was taken in today's retrial hearing of Leyla Zana, Prodi said that he hoped that Zana would be released, but he heard she was not. He added that he felt really sorry.
When asked whether his statements about Zana were an intervention in Turkish interior affairs, Prodi said that he did not think like that because freedom of expression was one of their criteria.
(EÖ-GC-MS) 16.01.2004