PRAGUE - Turkey, which is taking action from the view that the problems in European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) are on the road of solution, shed on Thursday green light to beginning of preparations for NATO-European Union (EU) joint exercise foreseen to be staged in 2003.
Heads of state and government of NATO member countries charged NATO Council to deal with the possible joint exercise of NATO and the EU to be staged in 2003.
Speaking on the issues on agenda of NATO Prague Summit, Sezer said that Turkey pursued a ''constructive approach'' towards ESDP and would continue that approach.
Sezer expressed belief that if all parties behaved constructively, the two organizations would have a strategic partnership in the possible shortest time and gave the message that if everybody approached to the issue positively, NATO-EU joint exercise could be possible in 2003.
Diplomatic sources said that this development did not mean that there was a change of Turkey's attitude towards ESDP and noted that ''Turkey wished that the mentioned joint exercise would be staged as all problems related with ESDP were solved.''
The sources stated that Ankara shed light to start of preparatory works and discussion of the joint exercise in the Council.
Noting that the exercise would be staged if all problems regarding ESDP were solved, the sources said that if there was not any solution, the exercise would not take place because Ankara had the right to veto in the Council.
The sources pointed out that Turkey would not obstruct preparations for the exercise in case the problems were solved.