ISTANBUL (AA) - German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said on Wednesday that Turkey`s accession negotiations with the EU would take a long time and be difficult from time to time.
Schroeder, who is currently paying a working visit to Turkey, has been awarded with `doctor honoris causa` degree by Istanbul`s Marmara University.
Speaking at the ceremony, Schroeder said that course of EU negotiations would depend on improvement of Turkey`s reform process, adding that Turkey`s accession negotiations with the EU would take a long time and be difficult from time to time.
Stressing that they should not deviate from their common target (Turkey`s EU membership), Schroeder said that Turkey had a momentous potential.
Schroeder said that mentality of people should change in this irreversible process, and he encouraged Turkey to maintain its reform process with the same determination. He extended Germany`s support to Turkey`s EU process.
Noting that Europe was a peaceful community formed by members who succeeded in confronting their history for a common future, Schroeder said that terrible events experienced by hundreds of thousands of Armenians in the era of the Ottoman Empire were marked in many countries a few days ago, and that the MPs at the German parliament remarked that Germany was also responsible for those events.
Schroeder said that he appreciated Prime Minister Erdogan`s proposal for investigation of the events by historians and expressed his hope that Armenia would not reject the proposal.
Schroeder said that the German archives had already been open, adding that German historians could also contribute to such an investigation.
Describing Turkey as an esteemed and reliable partner with Germany and Europe, Schroeder said that there had been a fruitful cooperation between the two countries in fight against international terrorism.
Referring to the issue of Iraq, Schroeder said that Turkey had been pursuing a responsible policy, and that Turkey and Europe had the potential for a close cooperation in modernization and democratization of Near and Middle East.
Schroeder expressed his regret that the Cyprus issue could not be resolved despite productive policy of Turkey.
Stressing that northern part of Cyprus who supported the plan of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan should be treated equally, Schroeder highlighted importance of EU`s financial assistance to Turkish Cypriots.
He said that Germany would do its utmost to contribute to economic development of northern Cyprus, adding that the UN should launch a new initiative for re-unification of the island.
(UK-MS)
2005-05-04