BUDAPEST - Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said on Wednesday that a European Union (EU), which would cover whole Europe including the Balkans, would end discussions on conflict of civilizations.
Arinc, who is currently in Hungarian capital Budapest to attend the 16th conference of European Parliament President and Parliament Speakers of Candidate Countries, attended a reception and luncheon hosted by Hungarian President Ferenc Madl.
Parliament Speaker Arinc, who later spoke in the afternoon session of the conference, expressed pleasure to see that everybody had accepted the fact that Southeast Europe was an indispensable part of Europe.
Arinc said, ''it is obvious that stability and security in Europe can't be ensured as long as there is economic and social chaos in the southeast part of the continent. Therefore, we should concretely show our support to the region. An EU, covering whole Europe including the Balkans, will end discussions on conflict of civilizations. As Balkan countries, we are nations who are based on narrow concepts related with geography, race, religion or beliefs, but who are trying to eliminate obsessions which harm us.''
''Of course, we have differences. But, we have taken brave steps to create a model mosaic stressing our similarities. We wish to form a unity including our similarities and differences. My country has always been a part of the Balkans and Europe in historical, political and economic sense and will continue to do so. We will continue to share the same goals with EU. We welcome EU's integration perspective with the west part of the Balkans which was in stability a while ago. Turkey will continue its support and assistance to regional countries,'' Arinc added.
FINAL STATEMENT OF CONFERENCE OF PARLIAMENT SPEAKERS WELCOMES TURKEY'S EFFORTS ON ROAD TO EU MEMBERSHIP
The final statement of the 16th conference of European Parliament President and Parliament Speakers of Candidate Countries welcomed on Wednesday Turkey's efforts on the road to European Union (EU) membership.
The final statement stressed that Turkey was a country whose EU accession was inevitable.
EU Council would take a decision on whether or not Turkey had met Copenhagen political criteria in December 2004, the statement recalled.
The statement welcomed Turkey's efforts to become EU full member.
Referring to Cyprus issue, the statement welcomed ''efforts aiming to enable efficient accession of a united Cyprus to EU and to resume talks process.''
ARINC MEETS WITH EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT COX
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc met on Wednesday with European Parliament President Pat Cox.
Cox thanked Turkey for attending the 16th conference of European Parliament President and Parliament Speakers of Candidate Countries in the level of parliament speakers and gave the message that those who shed green light to Turkey at Helsinki Summit would make the decision on Turkey in December 2004.
Pat Cox said that he would visit Turkish parliament between March 1 and 3 and address Turkish parliamentarians.
Cox noted that he wanted to lay a wreath on Peace Monument in Gelibolu and hold a meeting with Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) except his official schedule.
His grandfather battled in Canakkale as an Irish soldier in British army, Cox said.
Cox expressed belief that the peace park was a perfect symbol.
Noting that TUSIAD officials had asked him to deliver an economic speech on Turkey's European Union (EU) accession, Cox said that he wanted to respond positively to request of TUSIAD officials.
PARLIAMENT SPEAKER ARINC SAYS GOVERNMENT AND PARLIAMENT WORK TO GET AN EU NEGOTIATION DATE
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said on Wednesday that the government and parliament were exerting efforts to get a date to start full membership negotiations with the European Union (EU).
Following the 16th conference of European Parliament President and Parliament Speakers of Candidate Countries, Arinc told A.A correspondent that Turkey had attended the meeting for the seventh time, but this was the first time that a parliament speaker participated in the conference.
Arinc said that December 2004 was a very important date for Turkey.
The parliament had organized reciprocal visits with 12 countries in 2004, Arinc stated.
Arinc said that Turkey wanted to get a date to open entry talks with EU and therefore, the parliament and government were exerting efforts.
Stating that the final statement of the conference was in line with Turkey's expectations, Arinc expressed pleasure with the final statement.
Arinc met with Vice Chairperson of Slovakian Parliament Viliam Veteska, Speaker of the Maltese House of Representatives Anton Tabone and Polish Senate Speaker Longin Pastusiak.
(BRC-AÖ) 05.02.2004