Yilmaz Holds A Press Conference In Brussels

BRUSSELS, March 21 (A.A) - State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said on Thursday, ''Turkey targets to start full membership negotiations with the European Union (EU) at Copenhagen Summit in December of 2002.''
Yilmaz who is currently in Brussels to attend European Convention meeting held a press conference for Turkish journalists.
Underlining importance of Turkey's starting full membership negotiations in the beginning of 2003 during the term presidency of Greece, Yilmaz noted, ''as the EU is taking decisions about other candidate countries at Copenhagen Summit in December of 2002, it should also take a decision about beginning of full membership negotiations with Turkey. We should start full membership negotiations during term presidency of Greece. This is our target. If we cannot fulfill our commitments, we cannot reach our target. In that case, we will experience many difficulties in our relations. Because, the EU will have resolved its enlargement with other countries, and our uncertain candidacy status will continue. If we can succeed in starting full membership negotiations, we will have set up certain relations with the EU.''
When asked whether or not the EU helped Turkey in its efforts to become a full member, Yilmaz told reporters, ''Why shall they help us? They do not want Turkey's joining the EU. However, we targeted to fulfill our commitments and become a full member of the EU. If Turkey does not have any hostile attitude against the EU and does not halt its relations with the EU, it will be beneficial for the Union. Those who consider the EU a more global actor, defend that the EU cannot exist without Turkey. However, for those who consider the EU a limited integration aiming at increasing its welfare, Turkey will be an unbearable burden on the shoulders of the EU.''
According to the approaches regarded with the future of the EU, attitude toward Turkey may change, Yilmaz said, noting that, ''we are the one who applied for the candidacy, and we are the one who got the candidacy with difficulty. We are also the one who undertook commitments in this respect. Now that we are opening the issue to discussion although we should fulfill our commitments. This is not right. When you look at the issue from the point of Europe, this is incomprehensible. We have committed to fulfill those criteria and that we will reach this maturity. We should do what is necessary.''
When asked if he thought EU's attitude can be reliable if Turkey fulfills those criteria, Yilmaz said, ''We don't have any alternative except for trying it. We should fulfill the criteria and tell them that we had fulfilled the criteria. The EU did not make a mistake so far. In Laeken summit, following the Helsinki summit, they said they called us for the Convention. They called us to discuss the future of the EU together. They are asking for our views. This means their attitute toward Turkey is not insincere. I can not want them to take us as the full member before fulfillment of commitments. There is not any other candidate who entered the EU before fulfilling the criteria.''
When recalled that first evaluation of the National Program will take place in Turkey-EU Partnership Council that will take place in Luxembourg on April 16, Yilmaz said, ''I can not foresee the atmosphere that will be created. The coming 15 days are extremely important.''
When a journalist asked the meaning of his words saying ''honorable participation to the EU,'' Yilmaz said, ''this is not something related with honor. This is an issue of fulfillment of commitments. I think the biggest honor is to fulfill your commitment, and keeping your promise.''
'TURKEY SHOULD CHANGE ITSELF WITHOUT WAITING FOR CHANGES IN APPROACHES TOWARDS IT'
Yilmaz said, ''Turkey should change itself without waiting for changes in approaches towards it.''
Yilmaz said, ''if we cannot fulfill our commitments, we will face some problems in our relations with the European Union (EU). In that case, we cannot blame the EU for making discrimination. We put forward our reaction at Luxembourg Summit, and we were rightful. There was not any accession strategy or national programme on those days. Now, everything is clear. We know the EU's expectations and our own commitments. If we cannot fulfill commitments, we will be excluded not because of the EU's discrimination but because of our failure.''
''We should divide history of the EU into two: Before Copenhagen and after Copenhagen. Before Copenhagen there was not any criteria except for a general definition of democracy. Each European countries having a parliamentary system was able to become a full member of the EU. When Greece applied to the EU, the EU called on Turkey to apply the EU membership. But, we missed that opportunity. We had a very special position on those days: The Cold War, Russia and Turkey's place in security of Europe... again, we missed these opportunities. Then, communism collapsed. East European countries have applied to the EU. Some criteria were put forward during Copenhagen Summit. Now, these criteria have been implemented for Turkey like the other candidate countries,'' he said.
Yilmaz added, ''what will happen if number of EU members increases to 27, and Turkey is excluded? Some people think that Turkey would become a full member at the same time with Yugoslavia. We will not wait for a change in the approach towards Turkey. We will change ourselves. Then, their approach will also change.''
YILMAZ: ''WE ARE AT THE MOST CRITICAL POINT ON EU ISSUE''
Mesut Yilmaz said that Turkey's route toward the European Union (EU) would not change in case the reforms necessary for accession to the EU are realized, whoever comes to the ruling.
Yilmaz said, ''a radical reform process can only be realized by a stable and harmonized government,'' noting that, ''we have received full support from the opposition till we come to this point. We did not see any obstruction. Now that, if we can overcome the situation which got complicated with the support of the opposition, the route pertaining to the EU would not change whoever comes to the ruling in Turkey. We are at the most critical point at the moment. However, we should not see our commitments as concession.''
When a journalist said ''you are as if becoming alone in the course of time,'' and asked if there are times when his hopes are frustrated, Yilmaz said, ''No. Of course, I also see that obtaining a result will be more difficult when you are left alone. Making self criticism is a must to make Turkey reach the EU. This is not a method that is often used in domestic policy in Turkey. You are face to face with the risk of being accused with wandering EU admiration. Speaking against the EU, and saying that the EU makes discrimination creates credibility for you in domestic policy. You should take all those into consideration. I am so sure that the more this discussion is made openly, and the more the discussions are intensified, the more the public will be strengthened toward the EU. In this respect, I am pleased over the discussion of the opposing views.''
When a journalist said there was the view of polarization between the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Motherland Party (ANAP) in government coalition, Yilmaz said, ''the MHP also had some concerns pertaining to the preparation and implementation of the National Program. They have stated those views. We made changes on many issues by taking their views into consideration. We have the same difficulties when time came for the final arrangements. However, if the MHP had opposed to Turkey's accession to the EU, it would have clearly pointed out this at the beginning. We could not reach to this point, and we could not prepare the national program then. Only there is the problem 'how can the criteria and national priorities be connected with each other?' We could not so far find a healthy solution in this respect. We are a society which still consider freedoms as danger.''
'WRONG STEPS ON CYPRUS QUESTION WILL CREATE SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN OUR RELATIONS WITH THE EU'
Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said on Thursday, ''wrong steps to be taken on the Cyprus question will create serious problems in our relations with the European Union (EU).''
Noting that a concrete development could not be recorded on the Cyprus question yet, Yilmaz told reporters, ''we are calling out to our interlocutors in the EU: The current attitude of the EU is not sufficient to record such a development. If the EU wants a solution on the island, it should put equal pressure on both sides. However, we witness that the EU has given guarantee to the Greek Cypriot side, and put pressure on us. They have been keeping on saying that they had been putting necessary pressure on the Greek Cypriot side. A solution is not necessary. However, if a serious progress is recorded and we overcome deadlocks in our reforms about the EU, they will have to put forward more concrete things about us.''
''We have been monitoring developments in dialogue process between the two sides on Cyprus. If certain results are reached in the dialogue process, different formulas can be brought onto agenda. The EU can put forward some parametres as accepting full membership of the Greek Cypriot side. In that case, we can overcome many problems easily. Otherwise, we will face a serious crisis. Acceptance of full membership of Greek Cypriot side to represent the whole island, lack of parameters for a solution, and failure in recording development in relations between Turkey and the EU will lead serious problems in these relations. They are aware of this fact,'' he stressed.
Yilmaz added, ''pressure has been increasing on Greece about the European Security and Defense Policy. It was understood at the summit meeting in Barcelona. Greece was left alone. It has to take necessary steps to give up its attitude preventing cooperation between the EU and NATO till the summit meeting in Sevilla in June.''
''WE SHOULD OVERCOME THE CONCERNS OF MILITARY''
Yilmaz said that the military in Turkey have some concerns on European Union (EU) issue, yet that claiming that the military was against westernization and richness would be injustice.
When asked if he really felt that the military did not want the EU, Yilmaz said, the military has concerns that implementation of Copehagen criteria would separate Turkey. We should come to the point that Turkey's national integrity will still be preserved with Copenhagen criteria. The concern of military stems from here. Saying that military was against westernization and enrichening of Turkey would be injustice to them. We should overcome their concerns.''
When asked how those concerns could be overcome, Yilmaz said, ''unfortunately, this is not an issue we can pursuade at the time being with our experiences. This is an issue which we can see only by experiencing. We had experienced similar things in the past. Some allegations had been put foward in 1991 while forbidden language law was issued. They said fundamentalism would come to Turkey while Article 163 was lifted. Those did not happen. I don't believe that Copenhagen criteria would give damage to Turkey, but there are institutions believing in this. They consider preservation of national integrity as their mission. They don't want to take risk. This is the core of discussion in Turkey.''
Responding to a question what was the alternative to the EU, Yilmaz laughed and said, ''don't you know, Iran!''
''Nobody has a clear view. Everybody is looking for something. I say it is not the alternative to the EU for which we should search. We should protect our values and at the same time implement EU criteria. Instead of searching for a new alternative saying that the EU criteria would certainly split up Turkey, we should fulfill the criteria like Spain, Portugal, Bulgaria, Romania and other countries. Our minds are still not ready for this.''
''EUROPEAN UNION HAS ASSUMED AN EGOIST ATTITUDE ON THE ISSUE OF TERRORISM''
Yilmaz said, ''the European Union (EU) has assumed an egoist attitude on the issue of terrorism.''
Yilmaz who is currently in Brussels to attend European Convention meeting held a press conference for Turkish journalists.
He told reporters, ''the EU has always been egoist on the issue of terrorism. The EU has already been an egoist institution on every issue. Its exclusion terrorist organizations PKK and the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) from its list of terrorist organizations has revealed the fact that it tolerates terrorist organizations targeting Turkey unless they cause any damage to the EU. On numerous occasions, we warned the EU about these terrorist organizations. In return, they have been keeping on telling us that their assessment was under way. According to my point of view, they assess whether these organizations pose a threat against their security. They do not assess whether these organizations harm Turkey.''
Yilmaz said that the EU's list of terrorist organizations would be reviewed in June, and added that EU term president Spain could be more understanding on the issue.
Responding to a question, Yilmaz said, ''I have started the argument of death sentence. We pledged to lift death sentence and not to execute any capital punishment till annulment of death sentence. If we target to start full membership negotiations with the EU next year, we should lift death sentence as soon as possible. We said in the National Programme that we would not execute any capital punishment. If we do not execute any capital sentence, why should not we lift it?''
Noting that a compromise would be reached on the issue of language, Yilmaz said, ''the EU want us not to prevent education of mother tongue. They cannot tell us that we should use this or that language in our education system. It is a natural request.''
''OUR GOVERNMENT HAS NOTHING TO TAKE OFFENSE AT THE INCIDENT OF EU COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE KAREN FOGG''
Yilmaz said, ''our government has nothing to take offense at the incident of European Union (EU) Commission Representative Karen Fogg.''
Yilmaz who is currently in Brussels to attend European Convention meeting held a press conference for Turkish journalists.
Responding a question about leakage of Fogg's e-mails, Yilmaz said, ''our government has nothing to take offense at the incident of Fogg. She did not take any measure about her own security. Her e-mails could also be given to the Workers' Party (IP) by Brussels. What we are interested in is an allegation of IP leader Dogu Perincek. He claimed that he took these e-mails from the intelligence units of the state. This allegation has not been proved yet. If it is proved to be right, it will be a shame for us. In that case, we will have failed to provide communication security of a foreign diplomat in Turkey. If it is proved to be right, we will do whatever necessary. But, for the time being, the EU cannot blame us for anything.''
''In the end, Fogg is faulty. It is not clear how her messages were taken. We have applied to the court with the aim of banning publication of these messages. However, it is not possible in the era of internet. They put pressure on us to prevent publication of Fogg's e-mails. The court took a decision, and this decision was put into practice,'' he said.
Yilmaz will deliver a speech at the meeting of European Convention to explain Turkish government's opinions.