Erdogan: Turkey Has Fulfilled Its Tasks

STRASBOURG - ''Turkey has fulfilled its tasks. Now, the European Union (EU) has to fulfill its tasks,'' said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan addressed Turkish citizens in Strasbourg, France late on Tuesday.
''The EU will publish its report regarding Turkey's negotiation process tomorrow,'' he reminded.
Noting, ''the report will be published while I will be delivering a speech at Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE),'' Erdogan said, ''we, as a country which has met the Copenhagen political criteria until today, are expecting a positive result in the report.''
''The difficult process will start from now on. This process will be overcome within solidarity until December 17th, which is the date when Turkey will be given negotiation date,'' said Erdogan.
''Now the main thing is the EU journey. Our government has displayed a very significant performance in the last two years. We have reached the current stage with ruling and opposition parties and non-governmental organizations. Turkey has fulfilled its tasks. Now, the EU has to fulfill its tasks. Now they are being tested,'' said Erdogan.
Erdogan asked French citizens to understand Turkey well. He said, ''if we do not want clashes among civilizations and if we want to bring consensus, Turkey should take its place within the EU. The time when Turkey takes its place within the EU, global peace and solidarity will come true.''
(GC-MS) 05.10.2004