Turkey Hopes To Initiate EU Accession Talks In March 2005

BRUSSELS (CIHAN) - The Turkish Prime Minister said on Friday that Turkey was hoping to commence accession talks with the European Union in March 2005.
The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently in Brussels to attend the EU leaders summit, told a press conference today that Turkey had taken the necessary steps on the path to EU membership.
"Turkey with its infrastructure and determined steps is ready and poised to open accession talks with the European Union," said the Turkish Prime Minister, adding that Turkey had taken important steps in the implementation of EU reforms.
EU leaders will decide at the end of 2004 whether to open membership talks with Turkey, which has long been waiting to enter the affluent bloc.
The EU Commission is expected to issue a progress report on Turkey in October. The report will be the basis for the EU leaders` decision on whether to open accession talks with Turkey or not. Recent signals from the EU have underlined that the actual implementation of the EU reforms will be crucial.
Stating that he had carried out talks with the presidents and heads of the EU member countries, the Turkish Prime Minister said that he had spoken about the recent reforms Turkey had passed through parliament. "Our efforts in the south east and in the eastern Anatolian region are well known. Minority languages courses have been begun and broadcasting in non-Turkish languages initiated.
"We desire that talks will start without delay when the EU decides to initiate accession talks," the Turkish Prime Minister declared.
The EU sees the issue of broadcasting in different languages and dialects and Kurdish language course as a crucial test for the implementation of Turkey`s EU-inspired harmonization reforms, which have been legislated with a view to boosting Turkey`s EU membership bid.
Erdogan said that Turkey was not planning any special projects in order to persuade Turkish membership-skeptic France to support Turkey`s EU bid. The Turkish Prime Minister said that Turkey has fulfilled the EU Copenhagen political criteria with its recent constitution amendment and reform packages. Erdogan said that women`s rights had been included in recent packages.
A recent reform package, approved by the Turkish president, has enshrined gender equality in the Turkish constitution.
The Prime Minister underlined that Turkey and Turkish Cypriots had kept their promises during the failed reunification talks. "The Greek side rejected the UN peace plan. Our attitude was positive and we will maintain positive."
Erdogan said that the Union should take the necessary steps to end the economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.