PARIS - Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed belief on Thursday that the decision that the European Council would make on December 17th (on whether and when to open negotiations with Turkey) would be a milestone for not only Turkey-(EU) relations, but also for the new world order.
Speaking at a meeting of Organization of Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD), Erdogan said that Ankara expected the EU to start accession negotiations with Turkey without delay, and noted, ''we expect the EU to de facto and officially start negotiations (with us) in the first few months of 2005, or in July 2005 the latest.''
Erdogan continued, ''we adopt all common values of the EU. We are aware that we can reach the highest standards in pluralist democracy, rule of law, human rights, secularism, and freedom of thought and conscience, and right to association under the umbrella of the EU. So, becoming an EU full member is our strategic goal.''
Referring to the decision that the European Council will take on December 17th, Erdogan said, ''we hope that our friends in the EU will make a decision that will take under guarantee the continuation of a negotiation process without condition. And, in this context, we expect them to open accession negotiations without delay.''
Erdogan stated that Turkey had already adopted necessary laws and regulations in order to adjust to the political criteria required for starting membership negotiations.
Turkey had made a series of economic reforms in public sector, public finance, social security, tax and agriculture, Erdogan noted.
Erdogan said, ''however, we are aware that we need to attach more importance and give priority to inflow of foreign capital, privatization, productivity and employment.''
Stressing that Turkey was determined to go along with structural reforms, Erdogan recalled that the government was preparing a new three-year economic program.
Erdogan said, ''when we become an EU member, Turkish economy will grow, and not be a burden on the EU.''
-OECD REPORT-
On the other hand, Erdogan considered the OECD report made public today (Thursday) as a very serious reference, and said that the report was prepared in objectivity.
(BRC-ULG) 21.10.2004