THE HAGUE - Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said on Wednesday that positive steps which Turkey took on its European Union (EU) membership process were pleasing. He stressed that Turkey would be treated fairly and honestly during the process of making a decision on starting its membership negotiations.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Dutch Prime Minister Balkenende held a joint news conference following tete-a-tete meetings and talks between the delegations of the two countries. Balkenende recalled that report on Turkey that would be announced by the European Commission on October 6 was of great importance for EU`s making a decision on starting Turkey`s membership negotiations. He added that if the report was positive, negotiations with Turkey could be started immediately.
Stating that they welcomed positive steps that were taken within the scope of Copenhagen criteria in Turkey, Balkenende said that he also conveyed his view on this issue to Prime Minister Erdogan. Balkenende stressed that they wanted to see those positive steps in implementation as well and they, as the EU term president, would have very close relations with Turkey.
Balkenende also stressed that relations between Turkey and the Netherlands were very good.
Replying to a question, Balkenende said that developments that have taken place in Turkey for two years were very positive.
(EÖ-AÖ) 16.06.2004