ANKARA - Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said on Sunday that EU membership was not the only target of Turkey, adding that EU standards were important for Turkish people to live in prosperity, justice and freedom.
Addressing the breakfast meeting he held with journalists, Arinc said that the initiatives taken by the parliament in foreign policy would continue.
''I believe that the studies of the government, parliament and non-governmental organizations regarding Turkey's EU bid will give positive results,'' said Arinc.
Noting that Turkey's EU membership was a very important target, Arinc said that ''yet this is not the only target of Turkey.''
''Our final aim is to ensure every individual to live in justice, prosperity and freedom. EU standards, law and democracy are important for us to reach this target. We want to make EU membership come true due to that reason,'' said Arinc.
Arinc noted that negotiations in Cyprus which was a national issue for Turkey continued and that a schedule was put forward, adding that a 'united Cyprus' would join the EU as of May 1 in case of success in talks.
Arinc expressed his hope for the negotiations carried out in Cyprus under the leadership of TRNC President Rauf Denktas to be successful. Recalling that parliament gave the decisions which would determine the fate of the Turkish people, Denktas said that ''we know that Mr. Prime Minister and all institutions are very careful about this issue and the parliament will say the final word about Cyprus issue.''
ARINC: ''TURKEY WAS NOT SUPPORTED THIS MUCH BEFORE BY EU COUNTRIES''
''We want to show the existence and influence of the parliament in foreign policy,'' said Arinc talking to journalists in a breakfast meeting.
Arinc said that foreign policy issues were on the agenda of Turkey which wanted to start the negotiation process with EU in 2004.
Stressing that the parliament started a great leap forward in foreign policy, Arinc stated that ten presidents, 15 parliament speakers, 12 prime ministers, 44 ambassadors and more than 120 delegations visited the parliament in January, 2004.
Arinc stated that the parliament would host three parliament speakers between 1-4 March and that European President Pat Cox, who would come to Turkey on Monday, would address the parliament on Tuesday. Arinc stated that parliament speakers of Luxembourg and Lithuania would later come to Turkey.
Noting that he would meet with 12 foreign delegations, Arinc said that Irish, the Dutch and Italian parliament speakers would come to Turkey and that he would go to Syria and Morocco in April, to Germany in June and later to Poland and Spain.
Arinc said that mutual visits between parliament speakers, commission and friendship groups would contribute significantly to Turkey's promotion.
Upon a question about the visit of Cox to Turkey, Arinc said that he had a detailed meeting with Cox in Budapest and Cox appreciated Turkey's efforts for EU membership. Cox praised the reforms undertaken by Turkey recently, Arinc said.
''In EU, governments will give their decision. There is a sensitivity in EU public opinion about EU enlargement, their concern is not only towards Turkey. Certainly this process affects Turkey, but today Turkey is supported by EU countries at the level of prime ministers and presidents. Almost many of them except a few, are warm to Turkey's membership. They say that Turkey fulfilled Copenhagen political criteria in a considerable extent and a negotiation date should be given to Turkey,'' Arinc added.
Noting that Cox had explained the situation in the EU by making good analyses and told them that Turkey should be hopeful, and finally it would be the member of EU, Arinc said that this pleased them.
Arinc stressed that Turkey made Constitutional amendments, adopted adjustment laws, followed the practice of those laws and gained the right to receive a negotiation date from EU.
Arinc said that receiving a negotiation date would not mean that Turkey would be member of EU immediately and this process would continue for 4-5 years. He added, ''Turkey is a country which mainly comprises Muslims. Turkey's being a member with this identity can prevent clash of civilizations. It can show that 15 million Muslims in Europe and 1.5 billion Muslims in the world are not isolated.''
Noting that they wanted to show the influence, existence and effectivity of Parliament in foreign policy, Arinc said that foreign officials whom he met praised the success of Turkish parliamentarians in international commissions.
Recalling that Turkey has been monitored by the Council of Europe since 1996 because of terrorist activities and prevalence of Emergency Rule, Arinc said that however this period had passed.
Noting that the report of the Council of Europe envisioned removing Turkey from this monitoring system, Arinc said, ''getting out of monitoring seems to me like a pre-condition for receiving a negotiation date in the EU.''
Arinc said that Turkey should establish its relations very well both with Europe and Islamic countries.
Noting that another important issue in foreign policy was Cyprus question, Arinc said that a certain time table was set in Cyprus talks and if sides became successful, a united Cyprus would enter EU on May 1. He wished the talks to be completed successfully.
Arinc said that Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat called him on the phone last Friday and told him that they were working on a Constitutional draft and there was a delegation comprised of law officials in TRNC, but those officials wanted to work with some experts on constitution law in Turkey and asked whether Turkish Parliament would support such an activity or not.
Arinc said that he told Talat that Turkish Parliament would be pleased to help. He added that such a delegation would come from TRNC to Turkey on Monday or Tuesday and he would learn what they demanded and how Parliament could help them.
Arinc said that Turkey wanted talks in Cyprus to bring a just and lasting peace because Turkey, Greece, two sides in Cyprus and EU needed such a successful result.
(GC-Öª) 29.02.2004