Atacanli: Turkey Will Maintain Its Progress In Integration With E.U.

ANKARA (AA) - Sermet Atacanli, chief advisor to Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer for foreign affairs, said on Friday, ''Turkey will maintain its progress in integration with the EU. There is not any deviation from Turkey's integration with the EU.''
     Holding a press briefing at the Cankaya Presidential Office, Atacanli said, ''results of the referendums in France on Sunday and in the Netherlands on Wednesday on the EU Constitution were not surprising. Both Turkey and the EU were actually expecting those results. Although they were undesired, those results were expected and not surprising. When we examine history of integration process in Europe, we see that the EU faced similar problems in the past. But, the EU succeeded in overcoming all of them. We hope that recent problems will be resolved soon.''
     ''Earlier, some circles expressed their concerns about possible negative impacts of those results on Turkey's EU perspective. However, the EU clarified that such concerns were baseless. Turkey is determined to maintain its progress in integration with the EU. There is not any deviation from Turkey's integration with the EU. We rightfully expect the EU and the EU-member countries not to assume prejudiced attitudes against Turkey with respect to their commitments.''
     Replying to a question, he said that President Mehmet Ali Talat of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) would pay another visit to Turkey in the coming period, noting, ''he (Talat) will also meet Mr. President Sezer. There is no scheduled meeting now, but I think that he will visit Turkey soon.''
     Answering a question on the latest developments in Cyprus, Atacanli noted that there was a period of stagnation in Cyprus currently.
     Recalling that there was not a progress on the solution of Cyprus issue because the Greek Cypriots rejected UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan, Atacanli said, ''after Greek Cypriots gained the status of full membership (of the European Union), they assumed a more uncompromising attitude on the Cyprus issue since there is no reason left for them to extend efforts for a solution. Steps that can be taken on this issue should be assessed. Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs carry out consultations on this issue with relevant countries from time to time.''
     ''The important thing now is that Turkish Cypriots voted yes to the Annan plan while Greek Cypriots rejected it. TRNC and Turkey have fulfilled what is necessary regarding the Cyprus issue,'' he said.
     When asked why President Sezer did not meet Talat, Atacanli stated, ''because such a visit was not scheduled or planned.''
     Upon another question, Atacanli said that it was out of question that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer would send a message to U.S. President George Bush through Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
     (UK-E֭MS)
2005-06-03