ISTANBUL - Turkish Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Sami Guclu returned from Ireland to Turkey on Wednesday.
Guclu attended the European Union (EU) Agriculture Ministers' Informal Meeting held in Killarney town of Ireland.
Speaking to reporters at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Guclu said that the meeting focused on reforms in EU joint agricultural policies, commercial concessions, the importance of communication for reforms to be understood well at national and international level.
Noting that representatives from 25 EU member countries, three candidate countries and three EU commissioners attended the meeting, he said that he also delivered a speech in the meeting and explained studies made for adjustment to EU in Turkey and Turkey's view on rules of World Trade Organization.
Guclu stressed that he also asked EU member countries to support Turkey concerning negotiation date that the country aimed to get in December in order to start negotiations with the EU in the meeting.
He noted that they would continue their studies on adjustment to EU and implementing rules of World Trade Organization carefully.
Guclu stated that a final declaration was issued at the end of the meeting and noted that the final declaration stressed that EU member countries took proper steps on development of joint agriculture policies.
(EÖ-AÖ) 12.05.2004