Cem Meets With His French Counterpart Vedrine

PARIS (A.A) - 29.04.2002 - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem who is currently in French capital Paris as the guest of Foreign Policy Institute of France, had a meeting with his French counterpart Hubert Vedrine on Monday.
The meeting at Cafe de Fleur focused on the recent developments in the structure of the European Union (EU) and on relations between Turkey and the EU.
During the meeting that lasted for about half an hour, Vedrine conveyed his views about results of the first tour of presidential elections in France.
Cem will deliver a speech at a conference to be organized by Foreign Policy Institute of France on the issue of ''Turkey, Europe and Eurasia'' this evening.
CEM:''EU WOULD HAVE A STRONGER POLITICAL AND STRATEGIC IDENTITY WITH TURKEY IN THE UNION''
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem has stated that, Turkey would make the EU strategically and politically more powerful, especially in a continuously changing environment that began after Sept. 11 attacks.
Speaking at the French Foreign Policy Institute (IFRI) on Monday, Cem said ''The EU's power comes from its large variety and creativity. Today, the political goal of Europe is to have a universal message. Turkey will make the EU strategically and politically more powerful, especially in a continuously changing environment that began after Sept. 11 attacks.''
Cem stressed that membership negotiations between Turkey and the EU has to start soon in order to maintain stable relations. ''Turkey-EU relations should not move between the feeling of isolation at the EU Council meeting in Luxembourg and the integration spirit of the Helsinki Summit,'' he said.
''If the definition of being a European requires common history and geography, Turkey has been a European powder for seven centuries,'' he continued. ''If this definition is based on values such as democracy, human rights, state of law or secularism, we have been contributing to this culture for the last 75 years, although we still need progress in certain areas.''
''Turkey's EU membership and its key role in the center of Eurasia do not contradict with each other. Our cultural and historical background which covers Europe, Mediterranean, Balkans, Caucasia and the Middle East allows us to serve both of these regions,'' he said.
Cem also added that Turkey shared a common history with 27 UN member countries.
CEM:''GROWING STRENGTH OF RIGHTEST MOVEMENTS IN THE EU COUNTRIES COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS IN THE EU FULFILLING ITS OBLIGATIONS TO TURKEY''
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem has said that the growing strength of rightest movements in EU countries could cause problems in the EU fulfilling its obligations to Turkey.
Responding to the questions of the guests after speaking at a conference at the French Foreign Policy Institute on Monday evening, Cem said that Turkey will carry out the reforms that it has to in order to join the EU but the EU should also be aware of its own responsibilities.
Responding to a question on Cyprus, Cem said that the Cyprus conflict was a tough issue although there was hope. He said that the EU should encourage the Greek Cypriot side to make more efforts for the solution of the problem.
Cem will return to Turkey after holding a press conference on Tuesday regarding his contacts in Paris.