F.M. Freivalds Of Sweden Visits Diyarbakir Mayor Baydemir

DIYARBAKIR - Foreign Minister Laila Freivalds of Sweden said on Wednesday that she hoped the European Union (EU) Commission would release a positive report about Turkey.
Freivalds, who is currently paying an official visit to Turkey as guest of Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister, met Mayor Osman Baydemir of southeastern city of Diyarbakir on Wednesday.
Speaking at the meeting, Freivalds said that they appreciated the reform process in Turkey.
Recalling that Sweden was in favor of Turkey's becoming a member of the EU, Freivalds said that Turkey's accession would be beneficial for both Turkey and the EU-member countries.
Expressing her hope that the EU Commission would release a positive report about Turkey later in the day, Freivalds said that her talks would focus on future contributions of Sweden to Turkey's reform process.
Freivalds said that they were planning to provide a scholarship program on human rights out of respect to late Foreign Minister Anna Lindh of Sweden.
Meanwhile, Baydemir said in his part that the EU membership was a significant process in regard to human rights and democracy in Turkey.
(UK-AÖ) 06.10.2004