ISTANBUL - Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and an accompanying parliamentary delegation went to Austria on Monday morning as the guest of Austrian Parliament Speaker Andreas Kohl.
Speaking at Ataturk Airport before his departure, Arinc said that his visit was important as it would be the first visit from Turkey to Austria at the level of parliament speaker since 1995.
Arinc said that he would also meet with Austrian President Thomas Klestil, Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, and Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner, adding that ''I will exchange views about Turkish-Austrian bilateral relations, Turkey's EU membership, improvement of parliamentary relations between the two countries, regional and international problems.''
Arinc said that he also wanted to meet with representatives of Turkish society living in Austria and get information about the problems which Turkish citizens faced in Austria.
''I believe that my visit will be beneficial and constructive in ensuring the speed gained in bilateral relations particularly in 2003 also at the interparliamentary level,'' said Arinc.
(Öª-AY) 19.01.2004