Atacanli: Results Of Referendums In France And Netherlands Are Not Surprising

ANKARA (AA) - Sermet Atacanli, foreign affairs chief advisor to Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, said on Friday that results of the referendums in France and the Netherlands on the EU Constitution were not surprising, adding that there was not any deviation from Turkey's integration with the EU.
     Holding a press briefing at the Cankaya Presidential Office, Atacanli said, ''they were expected and not surprising but undesired results. In the past, the EU faced several problems during its integration process. But, the EU succeeded in overcoming all of them. We hope that recent problems will be resolved soon. There is not any deviation from Turkey's integration with the EU.''
     In last Wednesday's referendum, nearly two thirds of Dutch voters rejected the draft constitution, which is designed to help the EU work more smoothly after enlargement, compounding a crisis in the bloc sparked by France's 'no' vote in last Sunday's referendum.
     (UK-MS)
2005-06-03