ANKARA - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will attend a meeting to be held by Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen of European Union (EU) Term President Denmark on October 28.
Presidential Foreign Affairs Chief Adviser Tacan Ildem told a press briefing on Wednesday that Sezer would attend the meeting to take place in Copenhagen.
Ildem said that Sezer would be accompanied by Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sukru Sina Gurel during his visit to Denmark.
Touching on expressions to be used in the paragraph on Turkey to take place in the final statement of the extraordinary summit in Brussels between October 24-25, Ildem said that the paragraph was a positive step, but it was away from meeting Turkey's expectations.
Pointing to Turkey's reforms, Ildem said that Turkey expected the EU to take a decision to start accession negotiations with Turkey in 2003 during the Copenhagen Summit.
Ildem said on Wednesday, ''a paragraph about Turkey to be given place in the final statement of the summit meeting of heads of state and government of European Union (EU) countries in Brussels between October 24 and 25 is a positive step taken in the process heading to Copenhagen Summit in December. However, it is far away from being sufficient, and it does not meet Turkey's expectations.''
Speaking at the weekly press briefing at the Cankaya Presidential Palace, Ildem said, ''the summit meeting in Brussels will yield a determinant result in regard to future stages of the EU's enlargement process.''
''Turkey's EU candidacy is expected to be brought onto agenda of the summit. A delegation headed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will attend the meeting to be hosted by Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Denmark, the current term president of the EU, in Copenhagen on October 28 to give information about the summit. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sukru Sina Gurel will accompany President Sezer,'' he told reporters.
Underlining importance of Brussels Summit, Ildem said, ''however, Copenhagen Summit will be determinant in regard to Turkey's progressing a new stage in its membership process.''
Referring to the paragraph about Turkey to be given place in the final statement of the summit meeting of heads of state and government of EU countries in Brussels between October 24 and 25, Ildem said, ''this paragraph is a positive step taken in the process heading to Copenhagen Summit in December. However, it is far away from being sufficient, and it does not meet Turkey's expectations. When we compare this paragraph with those in final statements of Leaken and Sevilla summits, we see that more positive expressions take place in it. This paragraph says Turkey's full membership has been coming closure. While the EU was talking about Turkey's candidacy at Sevilla, now it is talking about Turkey's participation.''
Recalling that Turkey had made significant reforms, Ildem said, ''the paragraph does not fully reflect Turkey's current situation. Turkey expects the EU to set a date for beginning of accession negotiations after completing its reforms.''
Recalling that President Sezer sent a letter to EU Commission President Romano Prodi on October 8 to explain Turkey's expectations and views, Ildem said, ''President Sezer also sent letter to heads of state and government to attend the Copenhagen Summit. In his letter, President Sezer gave information about constitutional amendments and adjustment laws. Turkey has displayed its political will by taking these steps. Now, it expects a response from the EU. We expect heads of state and government of EU countries to give a decision with common-sense. This decision will not be important only for Turkey, but also for interests of the EU.''
Ildem said that President Sezer would continue holding contacts on the issue of Turkey's EU membership process in the coming period.
Noting that NATO Summit would be held in Prague between November 20 and 21, Ildem said, ''President Sezer will hold a series of bilateral contacts with leaders of the EU countries during the summit. President Sezer is determined to convey Turkey's sound political will to his interlocutors.''