Gul: Opening Of Entry Talks With Turkey Will Be An Exam Of Convincibility For E.U.

ISTANBUL - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Saturday that opening of full membership negotiations with Turkey would be an exam of convincibility and maturity for European Union (EU).
Gul delivered a speech on developments in Turkish foreign policy in a conference held by One Eurasia Foundation and Eurasian Strategic Researches Center in Istanbul.
Foreign Minister Gul drew attention that Turkey had entered the most critical period in its EU membership target which had continued for about half a century.
Gul said that any moment in 2004 should not be used in vain.
Turkey considered the year 2004 as ''a period of implementation'', Gul stated.
Gul said that the government would exert efforts in 2004 with the strong support of public opinion to ''start entry talks with EU'' at the end of 2004.
''When we are exerting these efforts, we think that EU also undertakes an important responsibility. Opening entry talks with Turkey will be an exam of convincibility and maturity for the Union,'' Gul added.
(BRC-AY) 18.01.2004