There Is A Long And Busy Process Till Copenhagen Summit

ANKARA - Carsten Sondergaard, Assistant Secretary of State for the Foreign Ministry of European Union (EU) Term President Denmark, said on Thursday that there was a long and busy process till Copenhagen Summit.
Sondergaard attended interdelegationary meetings together with Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Akin Alptuna and later met with Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal.
Following his contacts, Sondergaard told reporters that it was early to talk about the issue of whether or not Turkey would be given a date at the summit.
Sondergaard said that they took up developments in the EU, Turkey-EU relations and the Progress Report announced by the European Commission.
The report would be studied in the highest level in Brussels on October 24, Sondergaard noted.
Sondergaard stated that there was a long and busy process in front of them till Copenhagen Summit.
Upon a question if the report would be a determinant in the Copenhagen Summit, Sondergaard said that the Progress Report was the view of the European Commission and it had not been discussed by the member countries yet. Sondergaard noted that they would see the result when it was discussed.
Noting that next step would be taken at the foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg, Sondergaard said that they had entered a long process in which everybody would be very active.
Responding to a question, Sondergaard stated that the member countries would make a decision by taking into consideration the developments recorded since the last EU summit.
Sondergaard pointed out that the EU welcomed steps taken by Turkey and the governments would give the decision in December.
Upon a question about the effect of the general elections in Turkey on the process, Sondergaard said that it was the Turkish side which had to evaluate this issue and that EU governments would take into consideration what kind of developments had occurred in Turkey.
Asked if Turkey had a chance to be given a date at Copenhagen Summit after the Progress Report, Sondergaard said that it was too early to talk about results of the summit.
Sondergaard reiterated that EU countries would evaluate the Progress Report and the result would be given at Copenhagen Summit.
On another question, Sondergaard said that they debated Cyprus question and they carefully listened Ziyal's views about this issue.
Noting that he expressed EU's views about Cyprus question, Sondergaard said that they were pleased about Cyprus talks held in New York and hoped that a progress would be marked by the sides on the island.
Sources said that Ankara had the opportunity to express its views about the Progress Report to Sondergaard.
EU Term President Denmark was told that there were deficiencies in the report and political perspective had to be developed. Denmark was also told that EU was expected to respond to Turkey in according to the will that Turkey showed.
Ankara will bilaterally continue its initiatives on the road to the EU membership inside and outside from now on.
Sources said that developments in Iraq, Middle East, Caucasus and Afghanistan were also taken up at the meeting.
Meanwhile, EU Commissioner for enlargement Guenter Verheugen contacted Turkey's Embassy in Brussels upon news that Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel had called him on the phone but could not reach him.
Sources said that Verheugen gave the message that this should not be misunderstood, that he would call Gurel and that he could not talk with Gurel due to technical reasons.