BERLIN - German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder brought onto agenda the German foundations acting in Turkey and expressed Germany's sensitivity in this issue during his meeting with Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Schoeder said in the meeting that the German government was very sensitive about the foundations and he told Erdogan that they knew well the Turkish laws in this issue and described these laws as ''antidemocratic.''
Erdogan said that there is seperation of powers in Turkey and that there can not be any intervention in the judiciary, adding that ''yet Germans have to trust the Turkish judiciary system.''
Erdogan asked for full support from Germany to Turkey in Copenhagen in the meeting in which Turkey's EU membership process was also discussed. Schroeder used a diplomatic style and he didn't voice any date.
The two leaders also took up the Cyprus issue and Schroeder told Erdogan that this issue has to be sorted out.
At the end of the meeting, Schroeder told Erdogan that ''after speaking to you, I understood how you had 363 deputies elected to the parliament following the elections.''

ERDOGAN MEETS GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER FISCHER
German Foreign Minister Josckha Fischer said on Tuesday that as the federal government, they always supported Turkey's approachement with the European Union (EU).
Speaking after his meeting with Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Fischer said they always supported Turkey's approachement with the EU, and that they would exert all kind of efforts to give a positive signal for Turkey from the Copenhagen Summit.
Stressing the importance of adjustment process in this respect, Fischer said Copenhagen criteria had to be met, and that values like democracy, legal state, tolerance, role of women in society, and discrimination of state and religious affars were very important for the EU. Fischer said implementation of those values in the EU member countries, and countries which are candidates to the EU was an obligation.
Fischer said there were multilateral and close relations between Turkey and Germany, adding that those relations were cultural as well as they had political and economic dimensions. He said those relations have very much humanitarian dimensions.
Stating that they had a very open meeting with Erdogan, Fischer said EU progress report would be taken as basis to give a timetable in Copenhagen summit to Turkey to start full membership negotiations. He said EU's principle values union and implementation of those were very important.
Noting that he held a detailed meeting with Erdogan about the timetable, Fischer said he stated Erdogan that this issue was discussed in general council meeting, yet that a result could not be reached.
Stating that Cyprus question was also discussed in the meeting, Fischer said they supported the plan of the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan regarding the solution of Cyprus question. Fischer said they hoped Cyprus question would be solved, and the existing obstacles on European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) would be lifted.
Fischer said he could not know whether or not a result in line with Erdogan's wishes would be issued from Copenhagen Summit, adding that their attitude in this respect was clear. He said their attitude would be in the basis of progress report, other developments and it would depend on the EU Term President.
When a German journalist asked his views whether or not the new government in Turkey would implement the reforms, Fischer said they wished the reforms to be implemented strongly. Fischer said he was pleased to make cooperation with Erdogan and new Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis.
Meanwhile scheduled meeting of Erdogan with Christian Democrat Unity Party (CDU) leader Angela Merkel could not take place as Erdogan's meeting with Fischer prolonged.
Speaking at the press conference, Erdogan expressed his pleasure with paying a visit to Germany, one of the most important allies of Turkey.
Describing Germany as Turkey's traditional ally and partner, Erdogan highlighted the importance of further improvement of existing relations between Turkey and Germany.
Recalling that 2.5 million Turkish people had been living in Germany, Erdogan told reporters, ''600 thousand of them have been granted German citizenship. These people will constitute a bridge of friedship between our countries.''
''Germany is the biggest commercial partner of Turkey. Therefore, we attribute importance to our economic relations with Germany. German foundations acting in Turkey have important roles in development of economic relations,'' he said.
Referring to the lawsuit filed in Turkey against some German foundations, Erdogan described these foundations as very distinguished and rooted foundations. ''We have been pursuing the developments. Of course, it is out of question to intervene in a judicial process. I want German people to rely on the judicial system in Turkey and not to worry,'' he said.
Erdogan noted, ''one of the most important targets of our visit to German is Turkey's getting a date at the EU's Copenhagen Summit in December for opening of accession talks. We are aware of Germany's influence on the issue.''
Erdogan said that Turkey has a strong parliament and that there are no difficulties in adopting the legal arrangements, adding that EU's giving a negotiation date to Turkey in such a period would not cause any losses.
Erdogan said that Turkey is the only country which applied to the EU 40 years ago, but could not get any negotiation date, adding that ''this situation causes some suspect in the Turkish nation. We must overcome that.''
Erdogan said that the political, economic and social interests of Turkey and the EU complemented each other, adding that Turkey wanted to take part in the social justice and economic arena of Europe.
Erdogan said that if there are shortcomings in Turkey regarding the fulfillment of Copenhagen criteria, they can be overcome during the ruling of the AK Party. NGOs will be strengethened, and the Constitution will be reviewed by taking the views of different circles and in line with the national programme and European Convention on Human Rights, Erdogan said.
Erdogan said that the Political Parties Act and the election laws will be re-arranged by making consultations, adding that the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights will be implemented in the shortest time.
Erdogan said that if Turkey where the majority of the population is Muslim, gets a negotiation date in Copenhagen on Dec. 12, this will have positive effects on the Islamic world.
''After the negotiation date is given, it will be seen how Islam and democracy co-exist. This step will not be the breaking off ties among civilizations, but integration and compromise among them. Turkey can constitute the function of a bridge in this respect. If Europe takes such a decision, the world peace and freedoms will be defined. We don't see the European Union as a Christian club, and we don't want to see it a Christian club. As much as Turkey is tested, the EU will be tested on Dec. 12. Turkey is more ready for EU than the other countries which got negotiation date. December 12 will be a period in which a right decision will be taken.''