THE HAGUE - Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said on Saturday, ''Turkey has exceeded the critical threshold for opening of accession talks with the European Union (EU) by fulfilling all political criteria.''
Speaking at a session of the EU Parliament Speakers' Conference in The Hague on ''Impacts of EU's Enlargement on Europe and World'', Arinc said, ''we target to start accession talks with the EU at the end of the year. Our multilateral relations with the EU have been continuing for more than 40 years. Turkey has fulfilled all necessary political criteria and made a series of momentous reforms. Accession of secular and democratic Turkey where people of different faiths and different ethnic background can live in peace, tolerance and mutual understanding, will further increase strength of the EU. Turkey's membership will also increase global influence of the EU. The EU's Europe-Mediterranean cooperation program will become more meaningful and important with Turkey's accession.''
''The EU has to undertake more effective and comprehensive responsibilities in fight against terrorism, organized crimes, illegal migration and human smuggling, and in efforts to provide global peace in today's world. Turkey, a member of NATO for more than five decades, will make important contributions to the EU to this end,'' he added.
Arinc is expected to return to Turkey tomorrow.
The next conference will be held in Hungary in May of 2005.
(UK) 03.07.2004