BRUSSELS - Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, currently in Brussels representing Turkey during the European Convention meetings, met European Union (EU) Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Yilmaz said they discussed European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP), developments regarded with Iraq, and Turkey's membership to the EU.
Yilmaz said they focused on the difference of view which appeared on ESDP issue, noting that Turkey was faitful to the Ankara document which the sides earlier agreed on, and that it was not open to new negotiations.
Yilmaz said Solana expressed hope that an agreement would be reached on ESDP issue before the EU summit that will take place in Brussels on October 24.
Yilmaz said Turkey expected to get a date to start EU full membership negotiations during the Copenhagen summit, and that he told Solana that Turkey already met the political criteria in case the criteria implemented on other candidates are implemented on Turkey.
Yilmaz said he underlined that there was no valid reason not to give a positive response to Turkey's expectation.
Deputy Prime Minister Yilmaz said Solana pointed out that Turkey was a very important country for the EU, and that its membership to the EU had been decided in Helsinki summit, and that whether or not full membership negotiations start would not change this.
Yilmaz did not give detailed information about what he discussed with Solana about Iraq.