ISTANBUL - Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Wednesday, ''we believe that Turkey will take what it deserves from the European Union (EU) in December of 2004 on the basis of objective and fair criterion.''
Speaking at a meeting of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ISO) on ''Developments and Expectations in Turkey's Foreign Policy and Foreign Economic Relations'', Gul said, ''important developments both in our region and in the world entailed Turkey to follow an intense and active foreign policy during our government's 1.5 years of term in office. Turkey has pursued an active and orientative policy instead of remaining as a spectator.''
Recalling that Turkey firstly hosted the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers and later the Summit of NATO Heads of State and Government in June of 2004, Gul said that Turkey was invited to the G-8 Summit in the United States as a democratic partner and attended the summit in the prime ministerial level.
''Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid visits to the Netherlands and France under our State visits to the EU capitals prior to the EU's Brussels Summit in December where important decisions on Turkey will be taken. High-level EU officials affirmed that accession talks between Turkey and the EU would be opened without any delay if the EU believes that Turkey has fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria. We believe that Turkey will get what it deserves in December on the basis of objective and fair criterion,'' he said.
Gul stressed, ''Turkey has exceeded the critical threshold with its efforts to fulfil the Copenhagen political criteria by taking giant steps and making very significant reforms in order to meet Turkish people's need for a more democratic society and more modern living standards. We will maintain the reform process and implementation of these reforms after opening of the accession talks with the EU.''
Recalling that the EU Commission would release its Progress Report on Turkey in October, Gul said, ''we expect the EU Commission to make a fair and objective assessment in its reports.''
Noting that Turkey would host the second EU-the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Joint Forum in October, Gul said, ''the forum will constitute an important opportunity to remind the whole world of Turkey's contributions to the dialogue among civilizations.''
Referring to the recent developments in Cyprus, Gul said, ''international community appreciated our initiative to find a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue. In the final statement of its summit in June, the EU welcomed our positive contributions to efforts of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to find a comprehensive resolution to the Cyprus issue. As a result of our constructive and determined policies, the Cyprus issue is not an obstructive issue for Turkey any longer. Also, our initiatives aiming to put an end to international isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) have begun yielding positive results. We believe that investments in the TRNC will gradually increase in the coming months.
GUL: EMBARGOES ON TRNC WILL END SOONER OR LATER
Gul said on Wednesday, ''embargoes imposed on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will end sooner or later. Also, direct flights will start soon.''
Replying a question about recent developments in Cyprus, Gul said, ''Turkish Cypriot people fulfilled their responsibilty by approving United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan in the referenda in April. Following the referenda, they have regained their self-confidence. Embargoes imposed on the TRNC will end sooner or later. Also, direct flights will start soon.''
Upon another question, Gul said that Turkey should sign free trade agreements not only with the Mediterranean countries, but also with Latin American countries.
GUL: WE EXERT ALL KINDS OF EFFORTS TO PROVIDE OUR BUSINESSMEN WITH FACILITIES IN THEIR JOURNYS ABROAD
Gul said, ''we attribute great importance to our relations with our ally United States. The strategic partnership between Turkey and the United States has been further deepening on the basis of the similar approaches, the shared values and mutual interests.''
''We target to well assess the existing great potential our relations with the United States in economy, trade, investment, science and technology. We want to facilitate access of Turkish goods to American markets. We believe that efforts to diversify the ties between the two countries will also help efforts to consolidate the partnership ground between the two allies,'' he said.
Gul stressed that they had given priority to further improvement of economic and commercial relations with neighboring countries, Middle Eastern countries and with Eurasian countries.
Referring to the relations with Greece, Gul said, ''the rapprochement process between Turkey and Greece has been further improving in the perspective of strategic partnership.''
''The atmosphere of instability in the region affects Turkey negatively. Therefore, solution of existing problems in our region will be beneficial to Turkey. We consider making active contributions to efforts aiming to turn the Middle East into a geography of lasting peace, security, prosperity and cooperation a responsibility of us. We are ready to assist the sides to find a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute,'' he said.
Referring to the issue of Iraq, Gul said, ''Turkey's Iraq policy was given shape by taking into consideration long-term economic and strategic interests. We want protection of Iraq's territorial integrity and national unity, a fair representation of all sections of Iraqi population, formation of a democratic structure in Iraq .''
Noting that the relations between Turkey and Russia had accelerated, Gul said, ''Turkey will become one of the most important routes in transportation of hydrocarbon to Europe after finalization of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline projects. These projects will prevent increase in tanker traffic in the Turkish Straits.''
Referring to relations with Central Asian countries, Gul said, ''trade volume between Turkey and those countries increased to 1.1 million U.S. dollars last year. Also, Turkey became a country exporting capital to the region as a result of its loans to Central Asian countries.''
Gul recalled that Turkey was expected to host the summit of heads of state and government of Turkish speaking countries this year.
''We target to initiate our openings to the Far East via the People's Republic of China, Japan and South Korea. The positive relations between Turkey and the People's Republic of China have been further improving. I am planning to pay a visit to this country in the coming months to discuss the new and concrete cooperation opportunities,'' he said.
Gul added, ''we exert all kinds of efforts to provide our businessmen with facilities in their journeys abroad.''

(MS) 28.07.2004