Hoppe Says Turkey Passed Bridge On Its Membership Application To EU

SANLIURFA - Danish Ambassador to Turkey Christian Hoppe said on Saturday that Turkey has passed the bridge on its membership application to the European Union (EU).
Turkish Prime Ministry Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Regional Development Administration Deputy Chairman Dr. Ferhat Selli briefed a delegation including ambassadors, agriculture and economy consultants from 15 countries about ``investments in GAP``.
Replying to questions of reporters, Hoppe said that reforms that Turkey has fulfilled on its accession to the EU impressed EU members. Hoppe noted that talks between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and European Union (EU) Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen in Brussels supported this view.
Hoppe said that he thought that when entry talks started between EU and Turkey, the country would enter the process of preparation.
On the other hand, Austrian Ambassador to Turkey Dr. Marius Calligaris said that they were pleased that Turkey eliminated some shortcomings on its accession to the EU, stating that they supported Turkey to be a member of the EU.
(EÖ-UK) 25.09.2004