ISTANBUL (AA) - European Parliament (EP) President Josep Borrell Fontelles met on Saturday representatives of the religious societies in Turkey; Leyla Zana, former deputy of the banned Democracy Party (DEP); and members of non-governmental organizations like Turkish Industrialists` and Businessmen`s Association (TUSIAD), Confederation of Revolutionary Workers Unions (DISK), Moral Rights Workers Union (Hak-Is), Turkish Confederation of Labor (Turk-Is) and Confederation of Public Sector Unions (KESK) in Turkish commercial hub of Istanbul.
After meeting Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew; Ishak Haleva, the Chief Rabbi in Turkey; and two Syriac representatives; Borrell Fontelles told reporters, ``we had a very interesting meeting. I had a meeting with the religious representatives of non-Muslim society living in Turkey for more than one hour.``
Borrell Fontelles added, ``I expressed our views about the vote to be held at the (European) parliament on December 14th. I expressed devotion of the European Parliament to every kind of thought and religious freedom.``
On the other hand, TUSIAD Chairman Omer Sabanci, who had luncheon with EP President Borrell Fontelles, told reporters at the end of their meeting that as the Turkish business world, they expressed their expectation that the EU should open full membership negotiations with Turkey within 2005.
Meeting Borrell Fontelles, DISK Chairman Suleyman Celebi, Hak-Is Chairman Salim Uslu, Turk-Is official Mustafa Turkel, and KESK Secretary General Mustafa Avci stated that European Union (EU) should attach more importance to union rights and freedoms in Turkey.
Leyla Zana, former deputy of the banned Democracy Party (DEP), hosted dinner in honor of Borrell Fontelles on Saturday night.
During the meeting, Zana said, ``I would like to once more reiterate that the EU should open negotiations with Turkey immediately, and the resolution (to be reached during the meeting of the European Council on December 17th) should include an open and definite expression regarding the full membership perspective.``
Zana stated that the press reports that negotiation process would take long, possibility of granting special status to Turkey and open-ended negotiation process had started to tense the atmosphere.
Claiming that delaying the negotiations and foreseeing open-ended negotiations for Turkey could suspend the democratization process in Turkey, Zana said, ``although there are two paths in front of us, we have only one alternative. And, it is to walk on the road to the EU without any intimidation.``
Stating that December 17th was a turning point for Turkey and the region, Zana said, ``Turkish society is ready to integrate with the EU.``
(BRC)