ISTANBUL - Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said on Thursday that European Union (EU) appreciated reforms and institutional and structural changes made by Turkey on road to EU membership.
Arinc and accompanying delegation returned from Austria to Turkey.
Parliament Speaker Arinc told reporters that his meetings in Austria were very fruitful and he held high-level meetings.
Arinc recalled that he met with Austrian President, Parliament Speaker, Chancellor, and Foreign Minister.
Turkey-EU and Turkish-Austrian relations were taken up in his meetings, Arinc stated.
Arinc said that every person they met praised Turkey's success and stated that that positive atmosphere in EU and European public opinion would help start of Turkey's full membership negotiations.
As parliament speaker, he would continue to pay such visits to other EU countries since Turkey considers the year 2004 a year to start entry talks with EU, Arinc pointed out.
Arinc said that parliament was determined to fulfil its duties to reach EU full membership goal.
Asked if Cyprus issue came onto agenda during his meetings in Austria, Arinc said that Cyprus, Middle East and Iraq came onto agenda in his meetings.
Arinc said that Austria wished that a progress would be reached in Cyprus issue and that the issue would be solved till May 2004 if possible.
He stressed that Turkey wished that the issue would be settled by a compromise as soon as possible, Arinc noted.
Arinc said, ''I said that Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) are exerting great efforts and are good-willed. But, this issue can't be solved only by efforts of Turkish side. There are other sides in this issue. They should also contribute to this solution and cooperate. We told these to our counterparts and they welcomed our views.''
Austrian approved Turkey's attitude towards Iraq issue, Arinc pointed out.
Asked if Austrian officials promised to support Turkey's EU full membership, Arinc said, ''it is not possible for one official to say at this moment that he/she will support us. All officials with whom we met said that Turkey had fulfilled its obligations and it would get outcome of its efforts at the end of 2004.''
(BRC-AY) 22.01.2004