THE HAGUE - Turkey considered the decision that the European Union (EU) would make on whether or not to open full membership negotiations with Turkey a semi-final, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.
Sources said that Erdogan and Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende discussed Turkey's EU membership and foreign policy in their tete-a-tete meeting and meeting between Turkish and Dutch delegations.
Erdogan, in the meetings, said that Turkey's EU full membership would be the final.
Balkenende said that the Netherlands was very impressed with Turkey's efforts during Cyprus negotiations.
Touching on Afghanistan Erdogan said that Turkey had sent three helicopters to this country.
Erdogan noted that what had expected did not happen in Iraq and Afghanistan and stated that Afghan President Hamid Karzai could not provided control outside Kabul.
Erdogan, who went to the Netherlands early on Wednesday, was received by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, met with Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende and received Dutch Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Gerrit Zalm.
After their meeting, Erdogan and Balkenende held a joint press conference.
Erdogan later attended the meeting of Turkish-Dutch Business Forum in Rotterdam.
(BRC) 16.06.2004