Erdogan - Simitis Joint Press Conference

ATHENS - Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that they considered Greece not as a historical rival, but as a closest neighbor and strategic partner.
Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis held a joint press conference following the interdelegational talks. Erdogan said that he was very pleased to be in Athens where democracy had arisen.
Recalling that Simitis called him and congratulated for his party's success at the November 3 elections and invited him to Athens, Erdogan thanked to Simitis on behalf of his party.
Erdogan said that Turkish and Greek people had similar wishes and feelings, noting that the cooperation and solidarity which was launched by Ataturk, the founder of Turkish Republic, and Venizelos should be continued.
''Our party's democratic quality is as important as its votes which AK Party has received in the elections with respect to Turkish political life. Our party has received the votes from all parts of the society,'' Erdogan noted.
He stated, ''our people has a determination on Turkey's being a full member of the European Union (EU). We want to cooperate with all the member countries of EU to speed up our membership process to the union. We have made statements that Turkey's closest target is to have a date to start the membership negotiations with the EU after our party's victory in the elections.''
Erdogan said, ''during our meetings with the representatives of not only Turkish, but also foreign media organizations, I stated that this issue would be the prior issue of the government. Security and stability, strategic, political, economic, commercial and social interests of Turkey and the EU complete each other. One of the most important goals of our visit is to evaluate the short period till the EU summit due on December 12. We expect to be given a date to open membership negotiations at this summit.''
His party took over the ruling with a strong majority, Erdogan stated and noted that they did not have any difficulty in adoption of laws.
Erdogan said, ''our government will show a strong will to join the EU. There is real interests on the basis of our relations. Inclusion of Turkey in Europe in fields of peace, stability, economy, welfare and social justice will contribute to enlargement of this area towards Balkans, Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia.''
Noting that Turkey's integration with Europe on the basis of modern values system would have a positive impact on the point of view of Mediterranean, Black Sea and Caspian basin countries towards Europe, Erdogan stressed that strategic relations of those basins with the EU would not only increase, but also the union would mark a significant progress in becoming a world power.
Erdogan said, ''I would also like to inform you about the legal and administrative arrangements that our party is determined to make after forming the government. The Constitution will be reviewed in light of the National Program and European Convention on Human Rights and in cooperation with the opposition party, political parties outside the parliament and non-governmental organizations.''
''Freedom of expression, religion and conscience, and organization will be increased and non-governmental organizations will be strengthened. If there are deficiencies in adjustment and reform laws that were passed from the parliament in the recent legislative year, particularly the political parties and election laws and relevant arrangements, they will be eliminated,'' Erdogan noted.
Erdogan stated, ''verdicts of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) will be put into practice without any delay. Zero tolerance measures will be adopted regarding torture. The necessary adjustments will be made to facilitate the activity of Turkish associations abroad and of foreign associations in Turkey.''
Erdogan said that they will give priority to the international agreements which have not been signed or approved yet within the scope of Copenhagen criteria when the Parliament starts its term and the new government is formed.
Noting that they wish to fulfill those studies by cooperation with their European associates, Erdogan said that Turkey's success in this process will be an example for other Muslim nations and it will prove that Islam and democracy can exist together.
Erdogan said that world will talk about the reconciliation of civilizations, not about the clashes and he added that the most important two missions of AK Party are speeding up the access process of Turkey to EU and implementing an economic program which will strengthen the integration of Turkey with the world.
Referring to his visit to Cyprus, Erdogan said that if Turkey and Cyprus become members of EU, the region where the two countries take place will become the center of world tourism and trade and the people of two nations will take part among the most prosperous people of the world.
Erdogan said that if Turkey's membership negotiations are determined to start in 2003 under the term presidency of Greece, it will improve the relationships between the two countries.
ERDOGAN SAYS THEY SUPPORT NEGOTIATIONS ON CYPRUS PLAN
Erdogan said, ''we definitely support negotiations because we believe that politics is the art of solution of a problem. It is not an art of producing problems.''
Asked if Turkey would change its attitude towards the European army, Erdogan said, ''I think that there are not any problems about the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP). The issue has reached a point which can be overcome. This is the current situation.''
Upon a question about the Cyprus plan, Erdogan said that the plan was released ''at a very unfortunate period.''
Erdogan noted that the plan was released when Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas was ill and when there was a government which resigned in Turkey.
''Turkey is currently being ruled by a government that has resigned. The President has designated a person to form the government. The prime minister continues efforts to form the cabinet. After gaining the vote of confidence, the new government will seriously take up all these negotiations and continue them,'' Erdogan said.
Erdogan added, ''I should underline that we definitely support the negotiations because we believe that politics is the art of solution of a problem. It is not an art of producing problems. And, the politicians are in charge of solving these problems. I believe that we will take up this issue as friends and hand in hand and negotiate the issue. We consider this plan as a newly-initiated plan and we will make our evaluations in this respect.''
Asked if there would be a problem in support of Athens to Turkey's European Union (EU) membership if the Cyprus question was not solved and if the U.N. plan was taken up during the meeting and a compromise was reached in this stage, Erdogan said, ''both Simitis and I believe that we will solve this issue with a positive approach. We are holding our contacts by separating the Cyprus question from the EU process. Of course, I believe that the issue will be based on a more comfortable ground after the plan is examined by the sides, and after the efforts of the technocrats are well-evaluated. Mr. Simitis clearly stated that a date for negotiations about the EU should be given. We are grateful for this.''
Asked if the continental shelf was debated, Erdogan said, ''I am in favor of continuation of the efforts of the technocrats about the continental shelf in the Aegean. Efforts will continue. After a certain result is reached, the politicians who are authorized about this issue will make the necessary evaluation.''
Noting that the new government would start to work after getting the vote of confidence at the beginning of December, Erdogan said that initiatives related with the EU would be intensified once the government started to work.