Sezer Nato - Russia Rapprochement Is Appropriate For Turkey's Tendencies

ROME (A.A) - 28.05.2002 - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Tuesday that NATO-Russia rapprochement was appropriate for Turkey's tendencies.
Prior to his departure for Turkey, Sezer told reporters that NATO-Russia summit meeting in Italian capital Rome was very constructive.
Sezer said, ''this declaration occurred in the end of the necessity for cooperation with Russia. Thus, way for cooperation was paved.''
''Decision making process and NATO's independence should be maintained after NATO-Russia cooperation,'' Sezer stressed.
Giving information about his bilateral contacts, Sezer said that he held brief meetings with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Sezer quoted Simitis as saying that they supported Turkey's full membership to the European Union (EU) and Berlusconi as saying that there could not be an EU without Turkey.
They decided at the luncheon of the leaders to exert concerted efforts related with Indian-Pakistani tension, Sezer said.
Responding to questions of reporters about the statements of Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli about EU, Sezer said, ''the summit meeting on EU will be held on June 7. This is approved. I cannot say anything about the result of the meeting before holding it. But, I, personally, am in favour of abolition of capital punishment.''
Upon questions on early election discussions, Sezer said that it is the business of the parliament to set the election date and that the parliament could give a decision at any time.
Sezer and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem later left Rome for Turkey.