ISTANBUL - Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc left for Malta on Thursday to attend the Fourth European-Mediterranean Parliament Speakers Conference.
Speaking in a news conference before his departure, Arinc said that he was going to Malta upon the invitation he received from Maltese parliament.
Arinc stressed that Turkey supported European-Mediterranean process which aimed at forming close cooperation between EU countries and non-EU countries in the Mediterranean basin.
Arinc stated that the results of the meetings held in Valencia city of Spain in 2002, in Crete island of Greece in 2003 and in Naples city of Italy in 2003 regarding parliamentary cooperation would be reviewed during the meeting in Malta. Arinc said he would also have bilateral meetings.
Responding to questions of journalists about Cyprus talks that would start the same day, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said that ''today is an important day. I told that the negotiations held in New York were positive and constructive. I hope this process is completed and an agreement which brings a lasting and fair peace on the island is signed in the end so that a united Cyprus can join EU on May 1, 2004. Our views about Cyprus are known. We wish Turkish Cypriots to live in peace, freedom, equality and security and be a member of European family. I wish success to Mr. Rauf Denktas and all members of the delegation during the talks.''
(Öª-AÖ) 19.02.2004