ISTANBUL - Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul left on Tuesday for Belgian capital Brussels to attend the meeting of Turkey-European Union (EU) Association Council.
Prior to his departure, Gul told reporters that the Association Council was the highest level organ between Turkey and the EU.
Gul said that Turkey and EU were taking up all relations comprehensively in the Association Council.
''This Council has started to convene regularly after the Helsinki Summit held in 1999. Accession Partnership and National Program are considered in meetings of this Council. Progress and developments in Turkey are evaluated in the Council meetings,'' Gul said.
Gul went on saying, ''we are attaching special importance to this meeting of the Council since it is the last Association Council Meeting to be held before full membership negotiations of Turkey which we expect to start in December. Because, the progress report will be written in July and August and unveiled in October.''
''In this meeting, Turkey will have the opportunity to show its determination, and explain its steps and its initiatives to meet political criteria on the road to EU membership. I will also have the opportunity to explain in detail Turkey's constitutional amendments and new legal arrangements,'' Gul stated.
Gul noted that he would also attend the intergovernmental conference in which draft constitution would be discussed.
Turkish Foreign Minister Gul stated that he would proceed from Brussels to Russian capital Moscow.
Gul said that Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Term President Malaysia had launched a new initiative regarding the Middle East peace process, adding that he would hold several meetings in Moscow.
(BRC-AÖ) 18.05.2004