Cem: Germany Is One Of The Leading Key Countries In Turkey's Accession Process To E.U.

ISTANBUL - New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem said on Tuesday that Germany was one of the key countries in Turkey's accession process to the European Union (EU), noting that relations between Turkey and Germany, the EU, and Iraq would be discussed during his meeting with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder who also acts as the leader of Social Democrat Party.
Cem left for Berlin together with YTP Secretary General Istemihan Talay to hold talks with Schroeder.
Cem, who had a news conference at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, pointed out that his party would hold its first contact abroad in Germany, noting that Germany was very important for Turkey as more than three million Turkish citizens live there and with respect to economic relations.
Stressing that the EU would have priority in his contacts in Germany, Cem said, ''Germany is a strategic country on the EU issue, and bears a determining quality. The EU issue will have priority during the contacts. We have taken a very serious support from Germany and Chancellor Schroeder in the EU process. Serious and determined support of Schroeder in Helsinki Summit in 1999, the time when Turkey's candidacy was announced, had an important influence in getting candidacy status.''
Cem said, ''Schroeder is also a politician who always exerted efforts in overcoming of the difficulties of our people in Germany and worked for their integration with German society. Relations between Turkey and Germany, the EU, and Iraq will be among the issues which we will discuss together.''
Cem said that during his stay in Germany, he also had a meeting with Turkish businessman Vural Oger. ''Oger sent two million tourists to Turkey and he is closely following economic and political developments in Turkey. We'll meet with German and Turkish businessmen in Germany. The YTP regards investments and production very important; therefore, we see Germany as a big support and resource for Turkey,'' he said.
Cem also said that Germany is a key county in Turkey's EU membership process. ''We find this visit important for our people and also for Turkey's economic recovery,'' he commented.
When asked if foreign ministers of 15 European countries would support him before the elections, Cem said that he made good friends in the last five years not only in the EU, but also with foreign ministers in the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). ''All these people said they would support me,'' he went on to say. ''I didn't particularly asked for this support but their support is very important for the YTP. The YTP will be a leader in Turkey's preaccession process to the EU. Old friendships and their confidence will help me in this leadership efforts.''
When asked if he invited Vural Oger to his party, YTP Secretary General Istemihan Talay said Oger has been strongly supporting the YTP since the party's foundation and they would be very happy if Oger joined the party.