European Union Cannot Undervalue Turkey's Steps On The Path To E.U. Membership: Kretschmer

ANKARA - European Union (EU) Commission's Representative to Turkey Hans Joerg Kretschmer said on Monday that Turkey's steps on the path to EU could not be undervalued.
Kretschmer delivered a speech at a reception he hosted on the occasion of May 9 Europe Day. He said that the EU has now 25 members with the accession of ten new members and added that Europe Day had a different importance this year.
Noting that the other important events of this year were preparation of the first constitution of the EU and that a decision on Turkey's starting negotiations for EU membership would be taken, Kretschmer said that Turkey has taken important steps on the path to EU membership. He added that they could not undervalue Turkey's steps on this path.
Many diplomatic mission representatives in Ankara participated in the reception.
(GC-AÖ) 10.05.2004