Spanish Ambassador: I Believe Date Would Be Set In December For Opening Of Entry Talks With Turkey

ERZURUM - Spanish Ambassador in Ankara Manuel De La Camara has said that Turkey had taken important steps in European Union (EU) process in last 1.5 years, stressing, ''I believe that Turkey would be given date in December for negotiations.''
Speaking to reporters during his visit to Ahmet Kucukler, the mayor of eastern province of Erzurum, Camara said he thought reforms that Turkey had made in field of democracy in last 1.5 years were very positive.
Stressing that they supported Turkey's EU membership, Camara said that decisions taken in EU membership process should be implemented not only in Ankara, but also in every part of Turkey.
Release of former DEP deputies from prison, which left a negative impression on Europe for years, was an important decision and the EU saw that Turkey put into practice the decisions it made, Camara said and stressed that he believed Turkey would be given a negotiation date in December.
Noting that Turkey's EU membership was important also for stability in the region, Camara said that reforms in field of human rights would constitute example to the other countries in the region.
As the ambassador of a country which had suffered from terrorism for years, he thought it was very positive that Turkey had been expending efforts to resolve terrorist organization PKK problem through peaceful methods during EU membership process, Camara stated and added that they wanted to see necessary practices in this field after EU set date for opening of accession talks with Turkey.
(MS-AÖ) 21.06.2004