BUDAPEST - Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc arrived in Hungarian capital Budapest on Tuesday to attend 16th conference of European Parliament President and Parliament Speakers of Candidate Countries.
Arinc will partake in a dinner to be hosted by Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy of Hungary in honor of his guests later in the day.
The 16th conference of European Parliament President and Parliament Speakers of Candidate Countries will start on Wednesday.
The conference is expected to focus on enlargement process of the European Union (EU) and parliamentary co-operation with Balkan countries.
Arinc will partake in the luncheon to be hosted by President Ferenc Madl of Hungary.
He is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with parliament speakers of Slovakia, Czech Republic and Malta, and with European Parliament President Pat Cox the same day.
After partaking in a luncheon to be hosted at the Turkish Embassy in Budapest, Parliament Speaker Arinc will return to Turkey on Thursday.
Holding a press conference at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport prior to his departure, Arinc said that parliament speakers of the candidate countries to the European Union (EU) and five Balkan countries would attend the conference.
Noting that he would held bilateral meetings with European Parliament President Pat Cox and the other parliament speakers, Arinc said, ''during the meetings, I will give information about reform process in Turkey to fulfil the Copenhagen criteria in our EU membership process. I will stress that we expect the EU to set a date at its summit to be held in December of 2004 for opening of accession talks.''
TURKEY WANTS CYPRUS ISSUE TO REACH A FAIR AND LASTING SOLUTION
When asked at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport prior to his departure whether or not a failure in efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus issue would have a negative impact in Turkey's European Union (EU) membership process, Arinc said, ''earlier, the EU said that the Cyprus issue was not a part to the Copenhagen criteria, but finding a solution to the Cyprus issue till May 1, 2004 would constitute an important and successful factor in opening of accession talks between Turkey and the EU. Turkey wants the Cyprus issue to reach a fair and lasting solution. Decisions taken at the latest meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) and recent statements of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in several platforms, have revealed Turkey's determination to find a solution to the Cyprus issue.''
''During the meetings held in Davos city of Switzerland and in the United States, Turkey has displayed its determination by saying that it would be beneficial to turn the current situation in Cyprus into an atmosphere of fair and lasting peace,'' he said.
Arinc added, ''important steps can be taken till May 1, 2004. I believe that Turkey's efforts will make a significant contribution to resumption of negotiation process.''
TURKEY DOES NOT HAVE ANY INTERESTS IN SUCH ACTS OF TERRORISM
When asked during his press conference at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport prior to his departure, ''some circles claimed that Turkey would take advantage of recent bomb attacks in Iraq. What do you think?'' Arinc told reporters, ''these are totally wrongful and nonsense allegations. Turkey has been trying to do its utmost to contribute to settlement of tranquillity, stability and democratic process in Iraq. We want achievement of democratization process in Iraq. We have been advocating protection of territorial integrity of Iraq from the very beginning.''
''Turkey does not have any interests in such acts of terrorism, explosions, killing of people and attempts of leading Iraq into a turmoil and chaos. These are totally nonsense allegations. Turkey has never taken part in such actions,'' he added.
Arinc is expected to return to Turkey on Thursday.
(UK-AÖ) 03.02.2004