Turkey Needs Europe, Europe Needs Turkey: Aydin

HAMBURG - Turkish State Minister Mehmet Aydin has said that Turkey needed Europe, and Europe needed Turkey.
Aydin, who proceeded from Spanish capital Madrid to Hamburg city of Germany, attended a meeting organized by Hamburg Turkish Association's Coordination Board on Saturday.
Speaking at the meeting, Aydin said, ''I believe that Turkey can start accession talks with the European Union (EU) by the end of the year. Turkey has taken the necessary steps to fulfil Copenhagen political criteria. the EU-member countries appreciated our rapid progress.''
''As we are progressing on the path leading to the EU membership, we should also bring cultural issues to the forefront. Most of EU-member countries do not have enough information on the Turkish culture,'' he said.
Aydin is scheduled to attend the congress of Turkish community in Germany.
(UK-MS) 05.06.2004