Turkish President Says Turkey To Fulfil Its Duties On Road To E.U.

ANKARA - The Turkish president said on Wednesday that Turkey would fulfil its duties on the road to the European Union (EU).
Turkey's President Abdullah Gul expressed Turkey's determination to fulfil its responsibilities on the road to the EU.

"Turkey will go on with its reforms during the negotiation process, and when the European Commission says Turkey successfully ends negotiations and is ready for full membership, EU nations will decide about Turkey's membership," Gul told a joint press conference with Slovenian President Danilo Turk in Ankara.

Turk is the first Slovenian president visiting Turkey in almost 15 years.

Gul said that Turkey would respect the decision of the EU nations but expressed thought that causing problems for Turkey when Turkey was trying to change itself during the negotiation process was contradicting European values.

"However, what is pleasing is to see that when such voices are heard, there are stronger voices within Europe and these stronger voices remind the others that what they are doing is not correct," he said.

Gul defined such voices of some statesmen as contrary to the EU acquis and laws, and said that every one should be loyal to their promises.

Also, Gul said that Turkey and Slovenia had a cooperation based on mutual respect and confidence.

Gul also said that he saw this visit as an opportunity to boost bilateral relations.

The Turkish president thanked his Slovenian counterpart for his support to Turkey's EU membership negotiations, and expressed his belief that this support would continue.

Turkey became an EU candidate country in December 1999. The union launched accession talks with Turkey on October 3, 2005.