Gul: There Is No Disagreement With E.U.

SANAA - Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday that there was no disagreement with the European Union (EU).
Gul is currently in Yemeni capital Sanaa to attend the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Foreign Ministers' Conference.
When reminded of different comments on negotiation frame document that was planned to be made public on Wednesday, Gul noted that a meeting was held with the experts the previous day, adding that it was a very good one.
''The Copenhagen political criteria have been fulfilled. Political criteria were the conditions for beginning of membership negotiations. A decision was made (by EU) to start entry talks with Turkey, since we fulfilled them,'' he stressed.
Gul noted, ''it is obvious that negotiations will continue on some other issues. These matters are not easy, because they are about a transformation of a country. We know that it will take a long time.''
''Our task is to deepen and develop our democracy. That's why we should not expect another political thing from now on,'' he stressed.
Stating that there was no need for EU to tell Turkey that it should have good relations with its neighbors, Gul noted, ''we have already thought about these matters. We extend great efforts on these matters.''
Gul stressed that Turkey wanted to undertake important roles for an agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Asked if he was planning to go on a tour of EU countries to explain the issues he has mentioned, Gul said, ''any disagreement is out of question. We have already spoken about them. We have talked about these with the EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn and others. You know, I was in Brussels last week. There is no hesitation.''
Gul said, ''of course various articles can be written, and politicians may express their different views. We will not be influenced by them. We know what we will do. We will continue to progress on our path.''
''I HAVE TALKED TO KHARRAZI''
Replying to another question, Gul said he had the opportunity to talk to Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi today.
Asked about the expectations about the new period following the elections in Iran, Gul said it was obvious that a new period would start in Iran after the elections.
Gul said, ''Iran is our neighbor and a friendly country. We want to enhance our friendship and cooperation,'' and noted that this would be beneficial to the region.
Gul said issue of nuclear weapons was not discussed during his talk with Kharrazi, and noted that, ''our thesis on this issue is clear. From the very beginning, I have been saying that nuclear energy should only be used through peaceful means. We do not want to see weapons of mass destruction in our region.''