ISTANBUL - Dutch Ambassador to Turkey Sjoerd Izaak Hendric Gosses said on Saturday that they would keep the promise that Turkey would be treated fairly and neutrally.
Gosses delivered a speech in a meeting entitled ''European Turkey 5 to Finish'' held in Lutfi Kirdar Congress and Exhibition Hall in Istanbul.
Stating that European people had some concerns over enlargement of the European Union (EU), stating that Turkey was big as much as 10 countries which joined the EU recently.
Gosses noted that Guenter Verheugen, the EU Commissioner for enlargement, left Turkey with positive impressions, stating that Turkey was a big country and European people did not know about Turkey much. Gosses stated that there were some prejudices coming from the past, adding that Turkey's accession to the EU would affect Europe much.
Recalling that the progress report about Turkey would be made public in October, Gosses noted that they made a promise that Turkey would be treated fairly and neutrally and they would keep this promise.
Gosses noted that they did not expect Turkey to fulfill Copenhagen criteria hundred percent, adding that those (criteria) would be fulfilled during the process of negotiations.
Gosses stated that transformation should take place in Turkey in line of the vision of Ataturk, the Founder of Turkish Republic, stressing that he believed that Turkey would become an EU member in the end.
(EÖ-BRC) 12.09.2004