ISTANBUL (AA) - State Minister and Chief Negotiator Ali Babacan said on Thursday that the negotiation process with the EU wouldn't be an easy one.
     ''However, in medium and long term we will get the benefits of the difficulties which we will have in the short term,'' said Babacan.
     In his speech at Bogazici University upon the 20th anniversary of the Turkish-American Business Council, Babacan also referred to Turkey's EU bid.
     Stressing that the US had always been a big supporter of Turkey's EU bid, Babacan said that concrete results of the disciplined and determined attitude of the government regarding EU bid started to be taken in a short time.
     Turkey got the right to start entry talks with the EU in EU Summit on Dec. 17th, 2004, said Babacan, adding ''there is no turning back for EU and for Turkey from the steps taken for Turkey's EU bid.''
     Referring to the political and economic stability in Turkey, Babacan said despite the comprehensive reforms and steps taken by Turkey, there was more that had to be done.
     ''EU also gave a very important decision on Dec. 17th regarding its own future. We must be ready and patient against the debates on Turkey in some European countries and we must work hard,'' Babacan said. ''We must base our policies on progress and development, rather than fear,'' he added.
     Babacan stressed that the thing that mattered was Turkey's upgrading its standards. Underlining the importance of communication regarding the negotiation process, Babacan said that ''we must give more accurate and current information to masses of people, not only to decision makers in Europe... We believe that the relations between Turkey and EU will be more intensified in the next decade and the gap/difference between the realities of Turkey and the perception of Turkey will lessen.''
     ''We expect contribution and support of every Turkish citizen, every Turkish friend and every Turkish non-governmental organization in this promotion struggle,'' he said.
     Ali Babacan commented that Turkey's stability, development and membership to EU didn't only concern Turkey and Europe, but the whole world. ''All countries are very much interested in Turkey's EU bid,'' Babacan said.
     Babacan also expressed one again his belief in the continuation of the US's support to Turkey's EU bid.
     (֓-A֩
2005-06-02