GUL HOPES STUDIES CARRIED OUT FOR ADJUSTMENT TO EU TO REFLECT OBJECTIVELY TO PROGRESS REPORT

ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Thursday that he hoped that studies that have been carried out for adjustment to the European Union (EU) acquis would reflect objectively to the Progress Report to be announced by EU in October 2004.
Gul and European Commission Vice President Loyola de Palacio, who is currently in Turkey on an official visit, held a joint press conference.
Gul noted that de Palacio and he discussed steps that Turkey took on its path towards the EU, recalling that EU would make a decision on opening entry talks with Turkey in the summit to be held in December.
Noting that de Palacio and he also took up energy and transportation issues, important for Turkish-EU relations, Gul stressed that Turkey has become a significant energy corridor recently.
Underlining that Turkey was also important for transportation due to its geographical location, Gul said, ''Turkish straits have a special importance in energy field. We conveyed our concerns over passage from straits to her in the meeting. High number of tankers' passage from straits cause concerns. We asked for support.''
Gul said that they received some information that route of energy lines which started from Odessa, Ukraine could be turned to the Black Sea, stating that if such a decision was taken, they were concerned that there would be an increase in the number of tankers to pass from straits.
He added that they expected Ukraine to reassess the issue seriously.

GUL SAYS IT IS OUT OF QUESTION TO PREVENT FREE TRAFFIC IN STRAITS
When asked if route of Ukrainian oil pipeline is changed, whether any ban would be brought to Ukrainian-flagged ships in passage from straits, Gul said, ''we don't have any intention to prevent free traffic in straits. All stipulations stemming from agreements are in force. On the other hand, we should be realistic.'' Gul stated that there was few number of straits like Istanbul Strait in the world, noting that busy traffic and increase in the number of big tankers in the strait caused dangers.
Gul underlined that what was important was that everyone should be in cooperation in this issue, stating that they were exerting great efforts on this issue. He added that they launched necessary initiatives on their concerns over the possibility that route of pipeline could be changed.
Replying to a question, Gul said that Cyprus issue was also brought onto the agenda during his meeting with de Palacio. He underlined that EU Commission decision on ending of economic isolation of Turkish Cypriots should be approved by the Council of Europe.
Upon a question, Gul confirmed that Alaattin Cakici, the head of an organized crime gang, was captured.

DE PALACIO: ''TURKEY IS AN IMPORTANT AND STRATEGIC COUNTRY FOR EU''
De Palacio said she was very pleased to be in Turkey, adding that Gul and she had exchanged opinions on many matters, particularly in fields of transportation and energy.
De Palacio said the Progress Report that the EU Commission would release in October would affect Turkey's winning a date for opening of accession talks.
Stating that also concerns over change to the Ukrainian oil pipeline (Odesa-Brody route) were expressed during the meeting, De Palacio recalled that Ukraine and Poland earlier signed an agreement on the issue. Palacio said that the route should be in southeastern and northwestern directions, facilitating the job of EU refineries.
De Palacio said that they attributed great important to maritime security and they had conveyed their worries about the pipeline to the Ukrainian authorities.
De Palacio said they congratulated the Turkish government for the measures it had taken about sea traffic control and security of straits.
Replying to questions about the decision of EU Commission on softening of isolation of the Turkish Cypriot side, De Palacio said they were disappointed with results of the referendums in the island, stressing that they did not want a divided island, but they wanted to see it as a whole.
De Palacio said that they had started to take steps to soften isolation of the Turkish Cypriot side and they had been trying to close the gap between the two sides in Cyprus with economic aid packages.
Noting that the decision of the EU Commission would not be the ''last step'', De Palacio added that also transportation issue would come onto the agenda through new steps in the future.

(MS-AÖ) 15.07.2004