Gurel: E.U. Has To Give Turkey The Place It Deserves

BRUSSELS - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sukru Sina Gurel said on Thursday that the European Union (EU) had to give Turkey the place it deserved.
Gurel told a press conference that the Foreign Ministry prepared an action plan after the reform package was adopted at the parliament.
In this framework, he was explaining the importance and meaning of the reforms to the Europeans, Gurel said.
Gurel noted that he clearly expressed Turkey's views and expectations to the EU during his contacts and stated, ''our efforts should continue. I will have the opportunity to meet with some of my European counterparts in New York, where I will attend the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly. Then, I will meet with the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Denmark before the end of this month.''
He had explained during his contacts that ''Turkey had already fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria and the parliament made those reforms not only to make Turkish people reach international standards but also to improve its relations with the EU,'' Gurel pointed out.
''I clearly stated our further expectations. We expect the EU to set a timetable to open full membership negotiations with Turkey before the end of this year. We will tell our European friends how much rightful we are in our expectations during our following contacts,'' Gurel said.
Gurel noted that opening of negotiations would not mean that a process would end and stated that it was possible for Turkey to overcome its deficiencies, if any, within this process.
''Our demands, which we presented as realistic expectations, from our European interlocutors stem from a rightful reason. Turkish people have reflected their will to the parliament strongly and achieved to adopt this reform package in a period when political instability prevailed. There will be a more progress in the negotiation process from now on. If the EU implements similar criteria to Turkey which are put into practice for other EU candidates (in fact, this is the correct move), the negotiation process will begin,'' Gurel said.
Upon a question, Gurel said, ''if the amendments and reforms in Turkey are not realistically and sincerely evaluated, then an unfavourable period will start between Turkey and the EU unavoidably. Because Turkish people are not only realistic and have the good will but also they have done their best. They expect a similar attitude from the EU. I do not want to talk about this any more. We have to be more optimistic and constructive about the future. I guess that the EU will also think similarly.''
Gurel went on saying, ''we should prevent occurrence of a crisis of confidence between Turkey and the EU. Turkish people and those representing Turkish people have behaved sincerely and exerted great efforts so far. They also expect a similar move. It is difficult to talk about hypothesis. It will not be an objective evaluation if progress is recorded in the status of other candidates and if Turkey stays on the same place and is not given a negotiation timetable.''
Noting that the strategic importance of Turkey could be seen, Gurel said that he found the doubts about implementation of reforms unfair.
Gurel stated, ''when approaching towards the EU, Turkey and Turkish nation are heading towards the targets setforth since the foundation of the Republic. To this end, I do not find the doubts right. If the parliament had achieved to pass those reforms in such a difficult period, nobody would have the right to question the will (by saying how they will be implemented). They do not have the right to behave in this way towards Turkish people and administrators as they do not do such things to others. There is no need to express these doubts among ourselves on behalf of others. The implementation has already started. As a principle, nobody has the right to question the will of the people. The negotiation process is a process when many things are initiated.''
Nobody had the right to see that ''firstly, we see the implementation and then we will decide,'' Gurel said.
Gurel noted, ''such a criterion should not be imposed on anybody. Those who are surprized by steps taken by Turkey try to put forward such a view. Nobody has this right. As these laws are passed, they will be put into practice, of course. I am surprized that people have doubts about this issue. We are experiencing a process. We have to support and protect each other. You will see a country as a candidate and at the same time, you will put forth several excuses to keep it outside. I do not consider likely that the EU will digest such an attitude.''
Upon another question, Gurel said, ''winning a date is very important for us. Turkey's position should be evaluated no later than the Copenhagen summit. The only choice that will satisfy us is the beginning of negotiations as soon as possible. For example, the EU will sign agreements with the new members in March 2003. Negotiations with Turkey should begin before this date.''
Gurel said that there was no doubt that the attitude of the EU would have an important role in internal political developments in Turkey.
''We do not say that we should become a member tomorrow, but a long time has passed since we applied for membership. Now, those in the EU who express their uneasiness should have expressed it at the very beginning. The EU has to give Turkey the place it deserves in order to prove its sincerity now,'' Gurel added.