LONDON - Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that showing Cyprus, European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) and the European Union (EU) as not having connection had been a wrong approach.
Erdogan is currently in Britain within the framework of tour to the EU.
Erdogan said it had been a wrong approach to show Cyprus, ESDP and EU policies as not having connection, stressing that, ''there is no meaning in hiding our heads under the soil.''
Erdogan, following his meetings with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, addressed the foreign bankers, investors and businessmen in a seminar held by British and Turkish Businessmen and Industrialists Union.
When a journalist reminded Erdogan that he, in his previous stop, stated that issues like Cyprus, EU, and ESDP could be taken up as a package, and asked if this would mean an important policy change, AK Party leader pointed out that, ''showing Cyprus, ESDP, and EU policies as not having connection had been a wrong approach. It is impossible not to see the fact. All the leaders we talked brought in front of us those issues. There is no meaning in hiding our heads under the soil.''
Erdogan said, ''all right, let us evaluate all these as a package, but by making mutual sacrifice. Expecting sacrifice and concession only from the Turkish side would not be right. But if sacrifices are made mutually, a possibility of not finding a solution is not in question.''
ERDOGAN: WE DON'T CONSIDER EU AS A CHRISTIAN CLUB, AND WE DON'T WANT TO
Erdogan said that December 12 Copenhagen Summit would be a test for the European Union (EU), adding that, ''we don't consider EU as a Christian Club, and we don't want to.''
Erdogan addressed the foreign investors at a seminar held by Turkish Businessmen and Industrialists Union in Britain, saying that, ''if the world is talking about globalism today, the EU should prove this on December 12.''
Erdogan said unification of Turkey with Europe within contemporary values would also positively effect the view of the countries in the Mediterranean, Black Sea basins and Caspian basin toward Europe, adding that thus the EU would take an important step to gain a worldwide power.
Pointing out that there were nine important steps that should be taken in AK Party ruling to bring Turkey more closer to the EU, Erdogan said they would make this by negotiating the issue with the opposition and parties outside the parliament and NGOs. Erdogan said National Program and the Constitution would be reviewed in this scope.
Erdogan said freedom of thought, expression, religion and conscience would be increased, and that NGOs would be strengthened, stressing that, ''political parties act and election law will be discussed speedily and re-arranged to reach it to the level of European standards. Decisions taken by European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) would be implemented without delay. Torture will never be tolerated.''
Stressing that facilities would be brought to the activities of associations founded in Turkey, and activities of the associations founded abroad in Turkey, Erdogan said gaining of property of the community foundations would be facilitated. Erdogan said, ''an EU integration commission will be founded in the Parliament to provide necessary changes and adjustment.''
Erdogan said all the studies would be carried out with the EU member countries which he called as ''future partners'', and stressing that, ''we are resolved to accelerate EU membership process. We particularly want to accelerate integration with the world, mainly in economy. The talks we had this morning increased our hopes.''
Upon a question that whether EU members bring topics about Turkey's population and economy besides Cyprus and ESDP subjects into agenda, Erdogan said that they mainly discuss those issues.
When asked the future of relations with International Monetary Fund (IMF), Erdogan said that Turkey is getting into a stability period and so foreign investors and other sectors do not need to worry as the foreign investors will always be under the protection of the government. He added that they, as government, will try to provide every facility to ease the investors' job.
Erdogan said that they do not have any problems in the main frame of IMF program, however they have to respond the deficiencies of real economy in social part of the program, adding that IMF will help to eliminate those problems.
Erdogan who is accompanied by Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis, party members, representatives of non-governmental organizations and press members proceeded to Brussels to hold contacts. He later will visit Ireland capital Dublin at night.

ERDOGAN-BLAIR MEETING
Erdogan said that British Prime Minister Tony Blair told him that they would be in an effort to convince those who think differently regarded with EU's setting a date for Turkey's full membership.
Erdogan responded to the questions of reporters following his meeting with British Prime Minister Blair.
Responding to a question about the meeting, Erdogan said Blair told him that they would be in an effort to convince those who think differently about Turkey's EU full membership.
Erdogan said Blair stated that he wanted to be in continuous contact.
Responding to a question about his visit to 10 Downing Street, one of the most important centers of world politics, Erdogan said, ''we paid a visit to 10 Downing Street earlier. However, we are here today with a very different mission. Therefore, we are happy.''
When asked whether or not Blair had made an assessment about the AK Party's coming into power on its own, Erdogan said, ''no. But, I believe that it is an important opportunity. A political party could not come into power on its own for a long time. It was difficult to get results from coalition governments. We believe that it will be easier to take decision and to get results now.''
Erdogan said that he had gotten positive impression from his meeting with Prime Minister Blair.
When reminded about Erdogan's earlier statements who asked the U.N. not to rush the Turkish side about Cyprus plan, Erdogan said that ''certainly, I think that it will be better getting a result in Thessaloniki summit in 2003 by continuing negotiations until then.''
''If Cyprus issue is not solved until Copenhagen, do you think that the problem of date can be solved?'' asked journalists to Erdogan who said that ''it will be wrong to correlate the issues in respect of date.''
When a foreign journalist asked who will be the State Minister in charge of economy, Erdogan said it will be either State Minister Ali Babacan or State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener and that this issue will be decided within this week.

ERDOGAN-STRAW MEETING
Erdogan met British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. The meeting lasted for one hour and 15 minutes.
Speaking after the meeting, Erdogan said issues like Cyprus and European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) were discussed during the meeting.
Noting that this process would be accelerated with a strong AK Party ruling and an opposition. ''I believe that our cooperation will be better in the future.''
Meanwhile, Straw expressed his pleasure with hosting Erdogan in London, and said that they had held a very productive meeting.
Noting that he had congratulated Erdogan for the AK Party's success in general elections, Straw said that they appreciated political parties coming into power with votes of majority, and added that it would provide a much more effective work.
Pointing out that they had exchanged views on what should be done about Turkey's becoming a full member of the EU in the shortest period of time, Straw highlighted Britain's support to Turkey's EU full membership.
Straw said that the solution plan presented to the sides in Cyprus by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) were brought onto agenda during the meeting.
When asked, ''you have been kept saying that Britain supported Turkey's EU full membership. However, you refrain from talking about setting a date for opening of accession talks with Turkey. Can you talk about a date today?'' Straw said that the EU had had 15 members and I could not talk about a date without holding talks with them.