Erdogan: We Have Been Maintaining Our Preparatory Efforts For Our E.U. Membership Process

DAVOS (AA) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday, ''we have been maintaining our preparatory efforts for our EU membership process. Also, efforts have been under way to form the legal infrastructure for the Ankara Agreement. We are in favor of solution.''
     Prime Minister Erdogan, who is currently in Davos town of Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum, held a news conference.
     Upon a question about so-called Armenian genocide, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''our official position is clear. According to our point of view, not politicians but historians should deal with such issues. As the Republic of Turkey, we have opened air corridor with Armenia, and also initiated trade. There are 30 thousand citizens of Armenian origin in Turkey. They do not have such problems.''
    
     -TURKEY-ISRAEL RELATIONS-
     Upon a question about Turkey-Israel relations, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''Turkey is in favor of peace in the Middle East. Turkey has good relations both with Israel and Palestine. But we are against all kinds of acts of terrorism. We want two separate states in the Middle East. We have launched a series of initiatives to this end following the elections in Palestine. Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul paid visits to Israel and Palestine.''
     ''Our trade volume with Israel is about 2.5 billion U.S. dollars. I will visit Israel and Palestine in the coming months. We have always advocate a peaceful atmosphere. Both Israel and Palestine should fulfil their responsibilities to this end,'' he said.
    
     -EU-
     Replying to a question about Turkey's EU membership process, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''we have been maintaining our preparatory efforts for our EU membership process. Also, efforts have been under way to form the legal infrastructure for the Ankara Agreement. We do not want any delay. We are in favor of solution.''
    
     -ELECTIONS IN IRAQ-
     Upon a question about upcoming elections in Iraq, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''the elections will constitute a transition into democracy. The new government should define the next process carefully. It will have a heavy responsibility since it will prepare a new constitution. This constitution should not allow sovereignty of ethnic elements over each other. It should preserve Iraq's territorial integrity.''
    
     -UKRAINE'S EU MEMBERSHIP-
     Upon a question about Ukraine's EU membership, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''as you know, the EU's enlargement process has been continuing. We support Ukraine's EU membership as long as it is in line with rules.''
     (End)
     (UK-MS)
2005-01-28