BRUSSELS - European Parliament President Pat Cox said on Tuesday that they respected to results of the general elections in Turkey.
Holding a press conference after his meeting with Oguz Demiralp, the permanent representative of Turkey to the European Union (EU), Cox said that Demiralp had informed them on results of the general elections.
Cox stressed that the European Parliament wished to hold contacts with new Turkish MPs as soon as possible.
Noting that they would await appointment of new members of the Joint Parliamentary Commission, the dialogue organ between Turkish parliament and the European Parliament, Cox said that results of the general elections gave a signal of change symbolizing continuity.
Responding questions of journalists who referred to Islamist identity of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Cox said, ''I am an elected representative as well. We respect to results of democratic elections. Turkish people put forward their preference clearly.''
Recalling that a political party having religious characteristics won the elections, Cox said that he thought Turkish people cast their votes in favor of the AK Party not because of its religious characteristics, but because they believed that the AK Party could make economic and other reforms.
When asked whether or not the EU would set a date for opening of accession talks with Turkey at the Copenhagen Summit, Cox said that the European Parliament had not assumed an attitude yet.
Cox said that steps to be taken by the new government about the EU full membership would be determining.
Noting that results of the general elections were the sign of democracy in Turkey, Cox said victory of a political party having religious chracteristics did not constitute any problem, and added that the important thing was the political tendencies of the new government.
Meanwhile, Demiralp said in his part that he had informed Cox on results of the general elections in Turkey.
Noting that Turkey had developed its EU policy on the basis of principle of continuity, Demiralp said that Turkey's exectations from Copenhagen Summit did not change.