ANKARA - German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said on Monday regarding Turkey's EU bid that keeping the promise given to Turkey 40 years ago would be fair.
German Chancellor Schroeder and CHP leader Deniz Baykal came together at Hilton Hotel. After the half-an-hour meeting, Schroeder and Baykal replied to questions of journalists.
Noting that they wanted to improve bilateral relations, Schroeder reiterated that Germany supported EU membership of Turkey. He said that he thought the chance of EU Commission's presenting a positive report about Turkey at the end of the year was high. Schroeder said that Turkey could rely on Germany about EU membership and other issues.
Baykal said that his meeting with Schroeder was very pleasing and useful.
Noting that he explained once again the expectations of Turkey about EU, Baykal said that ''the things I've heard are very pleasing. German Chancellor showed once again that he was resolved about the issue of EU's starting full membership negotiations with Turkey. It is seen that there is no problem. I saw that he was hopeful about Turkey's implementing the reforms and that no problem would come out in that process. We gave assurances in that regard. Our meeting was very pleasing. The fact that Turkey's EU perspective is open has been confirmed once again with this meeting.''
Baykal stated that Iraqi issue also came to agenda during the meeting, adding that there was similarity between CHP policy and Germany's policy towards Iraq.
''We expressed our wish that all obstacles preventing Turkish people living in Germany from casting their votes in elections should be removed. I think that German Chancellor Schroeder has heard about it for the first time. We know that this issue was of great importance. I hope that a concrete progress would be made henceforth,'' he said.
Replying to a question whether last week's statements of German Christian Democrat Union Party (CDU) leader Angela Merkel were brought onto agenda of their meeting, Baykal said, ''yes. We regretted statements of Merkel. Therefore, we consider Schroeder's visit to Turkey very timely.''
''During the meeting, I said that reiteration of Schroeder's determined attitude, as the ruling political party and as the representative of Social Democrat Party government, was of importance. Schroeder told me that it was the political power, which determined Germany's attitude, not the opposition. He corroborated his policy determinedly. Actually, it is very pleasing. It is understood that our relations stand in a good point in regard to the EU. Of course, Schroeder's visit to Turkey aimed to further improve commercial relations between Turkey and Germany. He will visit southern province of Adana tomorrow. He seems to be willing to improve our relations. It is an attitude that will help efforts to further improve bilateral relations between our countries. It is very positive in all aspects,'' Baykal added.
(Öª-UK-AÖ) 23.02.2004