WARSAW - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Monday that Poland supported Turkey in its bid to be a full member of the European Union.
Gul, currently paying an official visit to Poland, held a joint news conference with Polish Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz following talks between the delegations.
Stating that Turkish-Polish relations improved a lot in recent years, Gul said, ''our President and Parliament Speaker are expected to visit Poland in the coming months. All those will further improve relations.''
Gul said he and Cimoszewicz agreed to improve economic relations, increase bilateral investments and touristic visits. He noted that he was pleased over full membership of Poland to the EU.
Replying to a question, Gul said Turkey always expended support to Poland within NATO, and noted that, ''we will continue our support.''
Gul said Turkish delegations went to New York with good will to find a solution to Cyprus question.
When asked what would be the results of the referendum, Gul said, ''I hope they will reach a solution before May 1. It will be the people who will decide for a solution if a referendum is hold. I can not say anything about it.''
When a Polish journalist asked whether or not Turkey would send soldiers to Iraq within NATO, Gul said, ''Turkey attributes great importance to stability of Iraq because stability of Iraq is for our benefit. We support all the initiatives aiming at stability. Turkey will of course join all the efforts that would take place under NATO umbrella.''
Polish Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz in his statement stressed that they expended full support to Turkey's EU full membership.
Replying to a question, Cimoszewicz denied allegations that Poland was against Turkey's full membership to the EU, stressing that they would expend every kind of support to Turkey's EU perspective.
Cimoszewicz said continuation of enlargement of the EU was beneficial for all member countries, noting that Turkey was an important partner at that point. He said Turkey was a democratic country representing Moslem world, and added that their view would not change after May 1.
Cimoszewicz said they fully supported Turkey's bid to be a full member of the EU, stating that Turkey took very important steps to meet Copenhagen criteria.
Pointing out that holding NATO summit in Istanbul was very important, Cimoszewicz said 26 allies should focus on future of NATO, and that they wanted NATO to undertake a more active role in Iraq.''
Cimoszewicz said they were pleased over the visit of Gul as it was the first time a Turkish Foreign Minister visited Poland after 11 years. He said bilateral and economic relations would be further improved after high level visits in the coming months.
(AY-AÖ) 09.02.2004