Gul: Entry Talks Can Start During Presidency Of Luxembourg

ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday, ''entry talks between Turkey and the European Union (EU) can start during presidency of Luxembourg.''
Speaking on NTV channel, Gul said, ''according to the Lausanne Treaty, our non-Muslim citizens have the minority status. Except for this, all citizens of the Republic of Turkey are formal citizens of our country. Therefore, the expression of minority cannot be valid. The press was given a draft text of the Progress Report. The draft text included expressions like 'Turkish minorities'. We intervened in the draft to exclude such expressions. We told the EU officials that those expressions were unacceptable. They understood us and changed them.''
Noting that there were some details in the report which needed revision, Gul said, ''in fact, it is a great development. The European Commission's recommendatory decision is a historic step.''

-''FREE MOVEMENT IS THE SPIRIT OF EU''

Upon a question about expressions in the report that Turkish economy should reach a certain level, Gul said, ''there is not free market economy in Turkey. Well I want to ask the EU whether Romania and Bulgaria have free market economy. They will become member of the EU before Turkey. We want all these expressions to be corrected. I believe that we will overcome such issues.''
Replying to another question, Gul said, ''free movement cannot take place among permanent measures. Free movement is the spirit of the EU. It cannot be prevented. Such differences can be brought onto agenda during the accession agreement after the entry talks. We will discuss these issues later. However, they should not overshadow this historic step.''

-''ENTRY TALKS CAN COINCIDE WITH PRESIDENCY OF LUXEMBOURG''

''Luxembourg and Britain are the countries supporting Turkey. In 2002, the expression ''without any delay' was used and the expression was approved at following four summits. We think that beginning of entry talks between Turkey and the EU can coincide with presidency of Luxembourg,'' he said.
Upon a question about preparatory works in Turkey for entry talks process, Gul said, ''we examine the method of previous entry talks. We also examine the entry talks process of the other EU countries. We have not yet named our chief negotiator.''

-''2014 CAN BE A REASONABLE DATE FOR FULL MEMBERSHIP''

Gul said, ''2014 can be a reasonable date for Turkey's full membership to the EU. The EU budget has already been prepared till 2013. On the other hand, membership depends on Turkey's performance. We said earlier that it would take a long time. Therefore, no one needs to worry. Maybe we will want to extend this process for our own interests. It depends on conditions. The most important thing is that Turkey should become a member of the EU at the end.''
Upon a question about the expression of ''suspension of talks'' in the report, Gul said, ''if it had not been put in the report, it would have been better. But, Turkey will not give up its target of the EU membership. Therefore, that expression is not valid at all.''
(UK-MS) 08.10.2004