ISTANBUL (A.A) - 08.07.2002 - Former U.S. President Bill Clinton came on Monday to Istanbul as the guest of Turkish American Businessmen's Association (TABA).
Tight security measures were taken in and around the airport.
Clinton will deliver a speech on Turkey-Europe-U.S. relations on the road to European Union (EU) at a meeting to be hosted at the Ciragan Palace on Tuesday.
CLINTON SAYS THEY SET EU INTO ACTION AND A DOOR WAS OPENED FOR TURKEY
Clinton said late on Monday that they set the European Union (EU) into action and a door was opened for Turkey.
Responding to questions of reporters, Clinton said that he had worked for Turkey's EU membership for years.
Asked if he had met with State Minister Kemal Dervis, who was in Samos island of Greece to attend a meeting, Clinton said that he had a meeting with Dervis and noted that they debated Turkey's relations with the EU and Greece.
Upon a question about the view of the United States towards Turkey's EU membership, Clinton said that if he spoke according to his position, he had strongly supported Turkey's EU accission for years and worked in that direction.
Clinton stated that they set the EU into action and a door was opened for Turkey. He added that he would continue to do the same.