ANKARA - During the meeting of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan with his Swedish counterpart Goran Persson; many issues including bilateral relations, Turkey's EU process, reforms undertaken by Turkey, Leyla Zana case, terrorist organization PKK/Kongra-Gel and Iraq have come to agenda.
Government sources said on Tuesday that Swedish Prime Minister Persson noted that Sweden was pleased with the recent steps taken by Turkey for its EU bid, but he also conveyed the sensitivity of Swedish society particularly in woman rights and killings of women for protection of honour.
Erdogan responded to that saying he shared that sensitivity and mentioned the recent amendments made in Civil Code about those issues. Erdogan stressed that more women should take part in politics in Turkey.
Swedish Prime Minister Persson also brought onto agenda the case of former DEP deputy Leyla Zana. Persson said that the Swedish government was sensitive about the case. Erdogan said in his part that the punishments in that case became final before they came to power. Noting that the re-trial process started for the case, Erdogan said ''the remaining is the task of the independent judiciary, we can't interfere with it.''
In the meeting, the issue of PKK/KADEK has also come to agenda and Prime Minister Erdogan has conveyed Turkey's sensitivity about the issue. Erdogan said that PKK/KADEK changed its name as Kongra-Gel, but its top members were the same. He conveyed Turkey's sensitivity about the organization's activities in Sweden to Persson. Prime Minister Erdogan also referred to the massacres caused by the terrorist organization and stressed that those should not be forgotten.
Swedish Prime Minister said in his part that Turkey should give more information to Sweden about the terrorist activities of PKK/Kongra-Gel so that they could help more. Persson said that Sweden was ready to cooperate in all platforms in fight with PKK/Kongra-Gel, adding that yet they had sensitivities in fight with terrorism as Sweden was an open society and they had to keep the balance.
When the Swedish side asked Prime Minister Erdogan about his views regarding a federation in Iraq, Erdogan said that a federation based on ethnic or religious groups would not solve the problems, on the contrary cause new problems and clashes. In the meeting, Erdogan stressed that political unity and territorial integrity of Iraq had to be maintained and its natural resources should belong to Iraqi people. Persson said in his part that Iraqi people should determine their own future.
Erdogan underlined the fact that Turkey was in active dialogue about the future of Iraq and gave brief information about Syrian President Bashar's visit to Turkey. Swedish side underlined the important role and influence which Turkey had in the Middle East due to its geopolitic status.
Prime Minister Erdogan also informed the Swedish side about the reforms undertaken in Turkey. Referring to the reforms undertaken in human rights, military-civilian relations, Erdogan also explained the measures taken to overcome the regional inequalities. Erdogan referred to the regulation made about broadcasting in mother tongue, and the new human rights programme prepared for judges and prosecutors. He also gave information about the economic programme in Turkey and issues of financial discipline.
During the meeting, Erdogan and Persson also talked about the contributions of former Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh who was killed in an assassination last year, to Turkey's EU bid.
Economic issues also came to agenda during the meeting. Prime Minister Erdogan said that foreign trade which was 877 million dollars in 2002 increased to 1.1 billion dollars in 2003, but this was not enough.
Erdogan asked the Swedish side to revive the Joint Business Council and remarked that Sweden and Turkey should make joint investments in third countries.
Persson said in his part that the trade potential between the two countries should be used more. He noted that the visit of Swedish Foreign Minister Laila Freidvals to Turkey soon would be a good opportunity for deepening the bilateral relations.
Both prime ministers also stressed the importance of the contributions of Turkish citizens living in Sweden to consolidation of the friendship between the two countries.
(Öª) 17.02.2004