Turkey Will Become E.U. Member Sooner Or Later

BRUSSELS - Belgian Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Annemie Neyts said on Thursday that she believed that Turkey should become a European Union (EU) member and that hesitating EU members had to be convinced about this issue.
Neyts attended a meeting held to introduce a book entitled ''Turkey-EU Relations'' in Representation of Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) in Brussels. The book is written by Prof. Dirk Rochtus, Gerrit de Vylder and Veli Yuksel.
Speaking at the meeting, Neyts said that Ankara's oppressive method was not useful and that she did not think that a date for opening of full membership negotiations would not be given to Turkey in Copenhagen.
Neyts noted that Turkey's EU membership was one of the most important decisions that the EU would make.
The Progress Report on Turkey which was announced on Wednesday noted that Turkey had taken significant steps, Neyts stated.
Neyts pointed out that reforms had to be implemented and that it was difficult to say that Turkey had totally fulfilled Copenhagen political criteria required to set a date for opening of full membership negotiations.
It was good that the report reflected positive developments in Turkey, Neyts said.
Noting that adoption of EU reforms in Turkey with more votes than the total number of coalition deputies was an important indicator, Neyts said that this proved that EU accession was supported by all the circles.
Neyts stated that Turkish non-governmental organizations were holding contacts in EU capital cities and informing the officials and that this was very useful.
Pointing out that she did not believe that a date would be given to Turkey in Copenhagen, Neyts said that a clearer road map could be put forward.
Neyts said that it was not a good thing to insist on a date and that she understood Turkey's sensitivities.
However, she noted, she believed that Turkey would continue to do what was necessary on the road to the EU membership even if a date was not given.
Neyts said that the EU was uneasy about the pressures.
Turkey was progressing on the right track, Neyts noted.
Stating that the EU had homework to do, Neyts said that she believed that Turkey should become an EU member and that it would become an EU member.
Neyts noted that however, she did not think that everybody in the EU were convinced about this issue and had given his/her last decision.
Asked if the pressure was coming from Turkey or the United States, Neyts said that it was coming from everywhere. She noted that they would exert utmost efforts not to demoralize Turks after Copenhagen and that they did not want to cause lack of will.
Noting that EU full membership was a ''serious process in which countries should be careful'', Neyts said that the Europeans did not know well about Turkey and to this end, contacts of non-governmental organizations and reports that were issued were useful.
Neyts added that ''changes had to be explained.''