Erdogan: We Consider Fulfilment Of Copenhagen Political Criteria As A Virtue Of Humanly Living

ANKARA - Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said late on Wednesday that they considered fulfillment of Copenhagen political criteria as a virtue of humanly living even if Turkey was not given a date for starting entry talks with the European Union (EU) at the Copenhagen summit.
Erdogan responded to questions of reporters after the dinner hosted by the ambassadors of EU member countries to Turkey.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his previous meeting with the ambassadors of EU member countries was two weeks ago and that they met again just after the elections held on Sunday.
''We held this meeting because we want to get date and start visits to these countries as we stated before the elections,'' Erdogan noted.
Erdogan pointed out that both his party and the Republican People's Party were determined to well evaluate the days before the Copenhagen summit.
They would do their best till December 12, Erdogan said and stated that they wanted to get the result they hoped on December 12.
Asked what kind of an approach Turkey would approach in its relations with the EU if it was not given a date in Copenhagen, Erdogan said, ''we will also continue our relations even if we don't get a date. This is not an end. We will continue similarly. Moreover, we consider fulfillment of Copenhagen political criteria as a virtue of humanly living. To this end, these will not be a loss for us, but an acquisition. That is, we have to achieve these no matter they accept us or out. If we do these things, we will not lose anything, but gain. To this end, we will continue our vision similarly.''
Asked what the ambassadors were expecting, Erdogan said, ''there were 34 articles in the constitutional amendment made last year and then the parliament passed an amendment law of 14 articles in August. But, there are some deficiencies in the spirit. These have to be overcome. For example, torture. We will definitely deal with this issue. There are some deficiencies in implementations towards foundations of societies and these have to be eliminated. Like broadcasting and education in mother tongue. Such things have to be put into practice and we have to put forth the sincerity of the government in elimination of these deficiencies.''
When asked what he was thinking about the harsh reaction of police to students who protested Higher Board of Education (YOK), Erdogan said, ''we will definitely deal with torture. That is, Turkey cannot be a country which is torturing. I have said our main principle now. I hope you will see how AK Party is dealing with these issues when it takes over the ruling. There will not definitely be torture during our ruling because we are human. This society will see the virtue of humanly living and we have to achieve this.''
Responding to another question, Erdogan said that he would pay his first abroad visit to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on November 15 on the anniversary of the foundation and visit Greece on November 18.
Upon another question, Erdogan said that Cyprus question came to the agenda and added, ''we expressed our views which we always express about this issue. Two equal sovereign states is our main principle.''
Sources said that EU ambassadors firstly asked Erdogan who the prime minister would be. Erdogan, who did not announce the name of the prime minister candidate, said that he would evaluate this issue with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
When an ambassador asked how torture would be prevented, Erdogan said that torture continued both in gendarme and police. But, he noted, he would follow prevention of torture by himself and take the most efficient measures.
During the meeting, Erdogan said that it would not be an end for Turkey if it was not given a date in Copenhagen and that they would fulfil Copenhagen political criteria in every condition.
A diplomat who also attended the dinner defined Erdogan as ''a convincing'' leader who also ''gives detailed information.''
AK Party deputy leader Yasar Yakis told A.A correspondent that they would not be accompanied by any CHP member during their visits to Greece and other EU countries. But, Yakis said, CHP would lobby for getting a date for Turkey's entry talks in Copenhagen during its contacts with the social democrat parties.