ANKARA (AA) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday, ''Turkey will continue to fulfill its commitments to take its place within the European Union (EU).''
Releasing a message to mark the May 9th Europe Day, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''this year, we attribute a special meaning to Europe Day after heads of state and government of EU-member countries decided to open entry talks with Turkey on October 3rd, 2005.''
''The progress made by Turkey to achieve its target of EU membership should not be ignored. Turkey made revolutionary reforms as a part of its efforts to fulfil the Copenhagen political and economic criteria. Turkey will continue fulfilling its commitments to take its place in the EU,'' he said.
Calling on the EU to fulfil its own commitments vis-a-vis Turkey, Erdogan highlighted importance of opening of entry talks between Turkey and the EU on October 3rd without any delay, in regard to the EU's preserving its reliability.
''Turkey's membership will serve the aim of 'diversity in the Union'. Turkey, with its strengthening economy, will make great contributions to the EU's becoming a global economic actor. Membership of Turkey, which has a predominantly Muslim population, will prove that different cultures and faiths will not hinder co-existence on the basis of universal norms and values,'' Erdogan added.
(UK-ULG)
2005-05-09