ANKARA - Concerned circles appreciated Turkey's initiatives on the road to adjustment with the European Union (EU), Turkish Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said on Wednesday.
The British Embassy in Ankara hosted a reception to formally put into practice a project to support development of an action plan in order to implement Turkey's refuge and migration strategy.
Speaking in the reception, Aksu said that the aim of the project was to adjust Turkey with EU acquis in migration and refuge.
Aksu noted that concerned circles were closely following and appreciating recent initiatives of Turkey to adjust with the EU.
EU full membership was Turkey's strategic priority, Aksu stated.
Aksu said that legal groundwork for EU membership had been laid quickly, especially regarding issues concerning the Interior and Justice Ministries.
Turkey had changed and liberalized legal framework related with human rights and freedoms on the road to EU, Aksu pointed out.
Aksu said that there were still steps to be taken by Turkey.
Turkey would prepare a national action plan which would set legal adjustment, institutional reform, and infrastructures required for implementation of refuge and migration strategy, Aksu noted.
Aksu said that Turkey had attached great importance to migration and refuge due to its geographical location and wanted to increase its technical capacity and take legal and administrative measures.
Turkey had captured 4,476 foreigners from 32 countries travelling illegally in its territory in the last seven years, Aksu noted.
Aksu stated that 31 human smugglers from Turkey, China and Bangladesh and 37 foreigners were captured in a recent operation.
The Balkan route of human trafficking had been shifted to northern Black Sea and Mediterranean thanks to Turkey's determined fight, Aksu added.
British Ambassador to Turkey Peter Westmacott, in his part, expressed belief that the mentioned project would contribute to Turkey's EU process.
His government would continue to support Turkey's accession to the EU in the possible shortest time, Westmacott said.
Westmacott expressed belief that Turkey would become an EU member.
EU Commission's Representative to Turkey Hans Joerg Kretschmer said that as a transit country, Turkey was a secure country for migration however, it had some institutional and infrastructural deficiencies.
Stressing importance of Turkey's steps on the road to EU membership, Kretschmer said that there were still some steps to be taken by Turkey.
Kretschmer stressed the need that Turkish Interior Ministry should form a private civilian department dealing with refuge and migration.
The mentioned project would be an important step which would help Turkey reach EU standards, Kretschmer said.
Kretschmer expressed hope that the action plan to be put into practice as a part of the project would be accepted by Turkish government.
The project carried out in close cooperation between Danish and British experts and Turkish Interior Ministry aims to increase Turkey's refuge and migration capacity.
The project will last for 12 months. 520 thousand Euro of its cost will be met by European Commission's pre-accession assistance to Turkey.
This project is a part of efforts to adjust Turkey's laws with EU laws.
(BRC) 28.04.2004