Turkey Gives Note To E.U.

ANKARA (AA) - The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that opinions about the December 17th EU summit proposals on which Turkey did not agree had been noted with a note given to the European Union (EU) on December 23rd, and a decision would be reached on long transition periods, derogations, safeguard clauses and exceptional arrangements, which were among the summit decisions, through a compromise also with Turkey.
     Releasing a statement, the Foreign Ministry recalled that the 23rd paragraph of the presidency conclusions of the December 17th summit of EU heads of state and government included several recommendations to the EU Commission which might be considered regarding determination of the position that the EU would adopt during entry talks with new candidate countries.
     The ministry said Turkey had given a note to the EU acting presidency on December 23rd about the proposal of ''long transition periods, derogations, specific arrangements or permanent safeguard clauses may be considered'' in 23rd paragraph of the presidency conclusions.
     After the European Commission recommended to open negotiations with Turkey on October 6th, Turkey had drawn attention of the EU with official initiatives, either written or verbally, to its views and demands regarding some issues written in the recommendatory text, the ministry said.
     The Ministry noted that Turkey continued to express its views to the EU acting presidency, Commission and member countries either verbally or written.
     As a result of these initiatives, there was a change of expression which would explain what ''permanent'' meant, the ministry said.
     The Ministry added, ''thus, it has been noted that those proposed measures were considered to be applied when necessary, not to be implemented permanently.''
    
     -DECEMBER 23RD NOTE-
     The statement went on as saying, ''despite this, with a note which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave on December 23rd, it has been once again officially noted that the EU primary law and the EU's fundamental philosophy allow solely derogations, safeguard clauses and exceptional arrangements which do not have permanent characteristics, and that Turkey should not be expected to consent to exceptional measures which were proposed in conclusions of the summit and are not exposed to any restriction in terms of period and content.''
    
     -TURKEY'S AGREEMENT-
     Pointing out that conclusions of the December 17th summit were the decisions which the EU made unilaterally, the statement said European Council at this stage proposed the Commission to discuss long term transition periods and implementation of some exceptional measures within the negotiation process.
     The statement also said, ''inclusion of final arrangements regarding the issue in final Accession Agreement, in case we agree, may be in question when time comes.''
     ''Besides, adaptation of some measures in favor of our country may be possible,'' the statement noted.
     The statement said Turkey's signing conclusions of December 17th summit, which is under the responsibility of only the EU countries, was out of question as it was alleged by some media organs and stated that Turkey's views on some proposals on which it did not agree, were noted down with a note.
     (BRC-AY)
2004-12-28