ANKARA (AA) - ''We believe that Turkey fulfilled its responsibilities. Our expectations from the European Union (EU) is rightful and legitimate,'' Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Wednesday.
     Gul replied to questions of reporters at Ankara's Esenboga Airport prior to his departure for Brussels.
     Gul said starting of negotiations with Turkey is awaited upon the recommendation of the European Commission.
     ''We hope that EU summit heads of government and state will decide clearly that full membership talks with Turkey would start, determine a date in a way that there would not be any need for a meeting, and make amendments to the decision overcoming our several concerns,'' Gul said.
     Gul said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan would come to Brussels in the evening, stating that there would be various preparatory studies and that various talks would be held.
     ''We believe that Turkey fulfilled its responsibilities. Turkey's expectation from the EU is rightful and legitimate,'' Gul said, stating that, ''we hope that the EU leaders will act with great vision and make a decision to start full membership negotiations within 2005 by remembering the texts they signed,'' Gul emphasized.
     Gul said the decision would be historical both for the EU and Turkey, stating that, ''talks, amendments and demands will continue till the last day. This is the requirement of the essence of the issue.''
     Replying to a question about the conditions of Turkey to leave the table, Gul said, full membership target should be clear and that a date should be issued in a way that there would not be any need for a new meeting.
     Gul said there were several issues contradicting the EU law, and noted that those were not legal and should be adjusted.
     Gul said, ''we are talking about those issues not only outside, but also with our interlocutors sincerely and openly. We hope that the EU leaders will pay attention to what the Turkish Prime Minister and I told them at the meetings and thus a compromise atmosphere will emerge in this context.''
     (AY-A֩
2004-12-15