Erdogan: Turkey's Accession To EU Is Very Important

BERLIN - ``Turkey`s accession to the European Union (EU) is very important. I believe when Turkey enters EU, the Union will be the most significant insurance of a world where peace has become global,`` said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder held a joint news conference after their meeting in Berlin, Germany, on Sunday.
Erdogan said, ``the meetings between delegations of two country were very fruitful. Schroeder has an expectation that the Progress Report which will be published on October 6th, will be positive.``
``Turkey, with its ruling and opposition parties and NGOs, have exerted a serious effort to amend the constitution and the laws on their way to the EU,`` said Erdogan.
Erdogan noted, ``as (Chancellor Schroeder) have expressed, the adoption of adjustment laws does not solve all the problems. The important thing is to implement the laws. Implementation is the difficult one. It is a change of mentality which requires another struggle. It will be a different process. You adopt adjustment laws, such as we have adopted at the Parliament. However when you want to implement them, you are faced with serious difficulties. But we are willing to implement them. As political power, we will struggle and complete this process with success and in solidarity with our friends and non-governmental organizations.``
Erdogan said, ``December 17th is not a full membership date. There are some statements in some countries and media organs that Turkey will be given membership on December 17th. However, this date is a date just to start negotiations process.``
Regarding Iran and Iraq, Erdogan said that he shares the views of Chancellor Schroeder. He added, ``we are expecting especially Iraq to take its place within the international democratic community. Turkey will exert efforts to fulfill its responsibility on this matter.``
SCHROEDER: I THINK EU COMMISSION WILL PUBLISH A POSITIVE REPORT (ON TURKEY) ON OCTOBER 6TH
Schroeder said, ``my country will vote for Turkey in December to start entry talks. We have taken up Turkey`s starting membership talks besides developments in Iran and Iraq during our meeting`` .
``We have agreed with (PM) Erdogan that works have not finished with the adoption of reforms, and implementation of them is also very important,`` added Schroeder.
Schroeder said, ``in this respect, I think the Commission will publish a positive report on October 6th. I do not know the content of the report. However Germany will vote in a positive way regarding the start of entry talks with Turkey in December.``
Noting, ``there are two reasons for us to vote in favor of Turkey,`` Schroeder said, ``Turkey has been promised for 40 years that if it fulfills political criteria, membership talks will start. Promises should be kept in international politics.``
``The second reason is regional circumstances. We all see how unstable the Middle East and front Asia are. Turkey has become a stability element in the region under the leadership of Erdogan. Also, Turkey has a unique situation in the region as regards Europe`s interests,`` added Schroeder.
Touching on the significance of Turkey for survival of values which Europe attributes importance, Schroeder said, ``an important project will be fulfilled when Turkey is accepted in the EU.``
ERDOGAN: THERE IS NO SYSTEMATIC TORTURE IN TURKEY
When a reporter asked, ``there is an expression in Progress Report affirming that `there is still torture in Turkey`. Does Germany support membership talks to start with such a country?`` Schroeder said, ``the implementation (of laws) is very important and it should be taken seriously.``
``Implementation is a process; We should not undervalue this. Erdogan pursues reforms with a determined manner since he has started his term in office. I believe he will continue. Erdogan deserves this confidence. The Commission will supervise this from time to time.``
Erdogan replied the same question. He said, ``the same question was asked to the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen during his visit to Izmir. Verheugen sent a delegation to Turkey to investigate torture allegations. The report Verheugen prepared about this question documented that there is no systematic torture in Turkey.``
``There is neither systematic torture nor a torture which is not systematic in Turkey. There cannot be. Because the biggest struggle is pursued by us about this matter. If there are some individual acts, we will fight against them either,`` said Erdogan.

(GC-ULG) 04.10.2004