MADRID - Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that in his meetings with Italian, Greek and Spanish prime ministers, these three important countries gave positive messages for Turkey's getting negotiation date at Copenhagen Summit on Dec. 12.
Speaking in a news conference after meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Aznar, Erdogan said that a good period starts in Turkey for Spanish investors to come and invest in Turkey.
Noting that cooperation in tourism will contirubte significantly to common interests, Erdogan said that he had a very sincere and friendly meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Aznar regarding Turkey's accession to EU.
''I saw that the prime ministers of three important countries of EU namely Italy, Greece and Spain were resolved about Turkey's membership to EU. We believe that our modernization project will speed up with Dec. 12, because there is no country left other than Turkey which will get negotiation date. EU has nothing to lose by giving negotiation date to Turkey. Nothing ends, but everything starts by EU's giving negotiation date, because there are many things to be done in fields such as basic rights and freedoms, strengthening of NGOs, administration of immovable properties of religious communities, amending Election Parties Act and Election Law and torture...Today the government which is very resolved about these issues came to power in Turkey. This process will speed up by the negotiation date to be taken at Copenhagen summit,'' he said.
Erdogan noted that 75-80 percent of the Turkish people want to join the EU, adding that ''if a positive decision is taken for Turkey in Copenhagen, there is an important advantage of that. Turkey whose majority of its people are Muslim will give a message to the Muslim world. Their regard on EU and Christian world will change. Turkey, as a model country where Islam and democracy coexist, will constitute an important example. This will bring a compromise, integration among civilizations and end clashes among civilizations. A very important door will be open for EU's opening to Asia, Middle East and Caucasus. We are pleased about positive approach of Mr. Aznar in these issues.''
Erdogan said that he also had the opportunity to discuss Cyprus issue with Aznar, adding that ''we told him that we are open to negotiation, we are resolved to start negotiations and we believe that a result will be taken by negotiations. We saw that Mr. Aznar shares the same views.''
Erdogan said that he also discussed ESDP and Iraqi issue with Aznar.
Reminding that Istanbul signed sisterhood protocol with Barcelona when he was Istanbul mayor, Erdogan said that ''we have also sports envoys here. We want to improve cultural, and economic relations with Spain.''
When journalists asked Erdogan if the news telling that President Sezer changed the cabinet list, Erdogan said that he didn't talk to Prime Minister Abdullah Gul yet, adding ''one or two changes could take place, this is normal.''
When reminded about his earlier words saying that ''the interference of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer in the cabinet list has changed the balances,'' Erdogan said ''I didn't use such an expression, if I used, it has been a slip of the tongue.''
Sources said Erdogan also invited Aznar to Turkey.