ANKARA - Parliament Speaker of Luxembourg Jean Spautz said on Wednesday that Turkey took very important steps to meet Copenhagen criteria and on democratization, and stressed that Turkey progressed with a breathtaking tempo.
Guest Parliament Speaker Spautz and an accompanying delegation visited EU Adjustment Commission Chairman Yasar Yakis.
Speaking at the meeting, Spautz said negotiations between Turkey and the EU would start in 2005 in case the report that would be given at the end of this year is considered positive.
Spautz stated that Luxembourg would be the term President of the EU at that time, stating that timing of their visit was appropriate because of this.
Spautz said they would have the opportunity to know Turkey better with the visit, and noted that they were impressed by the reform studies carried out in Parliament. Spautz said not only his country but also the whole Europe appreciated this.
Pointing out that Turkey took very important steps in meeting Copenhagen criteria and on democratization, Spautz said Turkey progressed with a breathtaking tempo.
The guest Parliament Speaker said Turkey's economy also bettered rapidly, adding that they could not even dream of the growth recorded in Turkish economy. He said growth rate reached 7-8 percent in Turkey as they were talking about 0.8 percent, stressing that Turkey at the same time fought against inflation.
Spautz said several steps have been taken in Turkey also on human rights but that there were difficulties in practice as it happened in many countries of the world.
Spautz also stressed the importance his country attributed to this visit noting that representatives of both ruling and opposition parties participated in the visit. Spautz said, ''as the Parliament Speaker, I have not paid such a visit with such a delegation for 10 years.''
(AY) 03.03.2004