Kretschmer: Accession Talks With Turkey Will Begin In A Few Months

IZMIR - Hansjoerg Kretschmer, the Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Turkey, has remarked that accession talks with Turkey will begin in a few months. ''This date is an historical one,'' said Kretschmer.
Kretschmer was in Izmir yesterday (Saturday) to attend a meeting sponsored by Federation of Western Anatolia Industrialists and Businessmen Associations (BASIFED). Kretschmer met Izmir Mayor Aziz Kocaoglu at Kocaoglu's office.
Kretschmer indicated that the beginning of accession talks with Turkey will be an historical one. ''Of course, the beginning of accession talks does not necessarily imply that Turkey will enter the EU. There is a long and tough road ahead for Turkey. Yet I believe that the Turkish government and parliament will overcome all challenges with determination,'' told Kretschmer.
According to Kretschmer, progress in Turkey does not merely depend on the government itself. ''The progress in Turkey really depends on NGOs and the people itself. If Turkey can develop as a whole, then it would surely be successful,'' said Kretschmer.