Yilmaz: The Important Thing Is Not To Dilute Full Membership Target

ANKARA - State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, who also acts as the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), pointed out that some circles could brought onto agenda the proposal to grant a special status for Turkey following the EU Progress Report announced on Wednesday. Yilmaz said, ''the important thing is not to dilute full membership, and not to be deceived by other candied apple they will show us.''
Yilmaz responded to the questions in a program in private tv channel.
Noting that the criticisms pointed out in the EU Progress Report should be met calmly, Yilmaz said a diplomacy initiative should be launched prior to Copenhagen Summit. Yilmaz said he had asked for appointments, stressing that he would pay visits to Germany and France to hold contacts in case positive response comes to his calls.
When asked there were demands for the release of Leyla Zana, Yilmaz said, ''this is not possible according to our legal system and Constitution. Only the President has authority to pardon people for health reasons. This may happen if she has health problems, but it is impossible for them to officially demand this from us.''
Yilmaz said in this process, granting a special status to Turkey may be brought onto agenda by making cooperation with some circles in Turkey and in case Turkey gives up full membership process, adding that, ''although they are not so many, there is the high voice of those in Turkey who oppose the EU. Now, that they will begin to say that EU would not take Turkey claiming the developments proved their ideas. We can overcome all those. The important thing is not to dilute full membership target. Our sole target is full membership. We are determined to fulfill necessary conditions required for full membership.''
Responding to a question about possibility of a U.S. operation against Iraq, Yilmaz said it was understood that a military intervention would not take place before December.
Speaking about the developments in Northern Iraq, Yilmaz said, ''it is impossible to implement a formula, excluding Turkey, in Iraq. With respect to the developments in Northern Iraq, Turkey is one of the determining countries, although not so much as the United States. Probably, there will be a solution in question in Iraq which we can also accept. It is impossible for Turkey to accept a solution that will disrupt Iraq's territorial integrity and pave ways for the formation of a Kurdish state.''