Yilmaz: 2002 Is A Very Critical Threshold For Our Country

ANKARA, Jan 19 (A.A) - Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz has said that Turkey was the only EU member candidate who didn't have a clear program to join the Union, when he spoke at a meeting held by the Turkish Parliamentarians' Association at Parliament on Saturday.
Yilmaz said that the views expressed at this meeting, which is entitled ''Common Values of Europe and Basic Elements of the European Constitution'', would help Parliament's activities regarding Turkey's Eu membership.
Yilmaz stated that 2002 would be a very critical year for Turkey, and added that the EU would decide to accept ten out of the 12 candidates by the end of this year.
Stating that Turkey has to implement all the Copenhagen criteria to start membership negotiations with the EU, Yilmaz said ''As of March, a convention will develop solutions and create answers to a series of questions regarding relations with the EU Parliament and basic agreements of the EU.
Sspeaking about Euro, Yilmaz said economic and financial policies should be in harmony for the Euro's success.
Yilmaz also said that it would be a very big mistake to exclude Turkey's efforts to become a full EU member from the EU's expansion perspective. ''Therefore, we need to know that 2002 is a critical threshold for both the EU and our country and act accordingly,'' he commented.
''On March 19, 2001, our government accepted Turkey's National Program which is the most comprehensive reform project of the history of the Turkish Republic,'' he said.