PRAGUE - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who is in Prague to attend NATO Summit, received on Thursday British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
During the meeting, Sezer said that the only thing that would satisfy Turkey at European Union (EU) Copenhagen Summit would be setting a definite date to start entry negotiations.
Sezer touched on the importance of EU Copenhagen Summit for Turkey and said that Turkish public was focused on this meeting.
Turkish people expected to be given a date to start full membership negotiations with the EU in 2003, Sezer noted.
Sezer stated that a new parliament was formed after the November 3 elections in Turkey and the ruling and opposition parties were in a full compromise about the EU membership process.
Noting that he met with the leaders of the two political parties that entered parliament, Sezer said that they supported the cooperation of the two political parties.
Sezer pointed out that the ruling party and the new government were determined to take new steps to reinforce constitutional and legal arrangements made on the road to EU full membership and he supported those initiatives.
Stating that the government was also dealing with arrangements that would totally end torture, Sezer said that all those initiatives were important developments in the process which would take Turkey to EU full membership.
Sezer said, ''what is important at the moment is to give a response in Copenhagen in line with expectations of Turkish people'' and stressed that Turkey would not be satisfied with any formula or proposal other than a definite date to start entry talks.
Pointing out that they knew that Britain had a constructive approach and attitude, Sezer said that they expected Britain to show similar understanding and support in Copenhagen.
Blair, in his part, said that they continued to support Turkey's full membership and that he would exert efforts to give a date to Turkey by intensifying his contacts with other EU leaders until the Copenhagen Summit.
Stating that Turkey's accepting United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's Cyprus report as ''negotiable'' would be a constructive attitude, Blair noted that this attitude would contribute to his efforts.
Sezer said that Annan's plan would be examined and the last word would be said by Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots.
It would be right to assume that the mentioned plan would require some significant changes in certain issues, Sezer noted and added that he could say this at a first glance.
Blair said that approaching to a solution in European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) could be perceived as a positive contribution and noted that conclusion of this issue till Copenhagen Summit would create a positive atmosphere.
When Sezer drew attention to high number of British tourists visiting Turkey, Blair said that his sister was an admirer of Turkey and he would visit Turkey as soon as possible.
PRESIDENT SEZER HOLDS BILATERAL CONTACTS DURING NATO SUMMIT IN PRAGUE
President Sezer received Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar of Spain.
During the meeting, relations between Turkey and the European Union (EU) were brought onto agenda.
Prime Minister Aznar said that some developments might occur till the EU Copenhagen Summit in December, and added that reaching a solution on the issue of the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) would create a very positive atmosphere.
Noting that the solution plan which was presented by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to the sides in Cyprus, could constitute a ground for a solution on the island, Aznar said that Spain was in favor of setting a date for opening of accession talks between Turkey and the EU. He said that Spain would expend efforts to this end till the EU Copenhagen Summit.
Prime Minister Aznar said that he was aware of the fact that proposals except for setting a date for opening of accession talks, would not satisfy Turkey.
Stressing that Spain was determined to support Turkey, Aznar said that they did not have any concerns about Turkey's protecting its secular structure.
Later, President Sezer received Prime Minister Anders Fog Rasmussen of current EU term president Denmark.
Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Rasmussen said that they knew Turkey's expectations and corcerns, and added that they would expend efforts to reach a balanced result at the EU Copenhagen Summit.
Noting that they would keep holding contacts with Ankara till the EU Copenhagen Summit, Rasmussen recalled that all candidate countries should fulfill the Copenhagen criteria to start accession talks with the EU, and that Turkey would not be given any other condition except for Copenhagen criteria.
Rasmussen said that reaching a solution on the issue of the ESDP and formation of a will in Cyprus towards a solution would be helpful in creating a positive atmosphere.
President Sezer told Prime Minister Rasmussen that the EU made a serious mistake by starting accession talks with the Greek Cypriot side, and added, ''the Greek Cypriot side thinks that it can enter the EU without reaching an agreement on the island. An unfairness and imbalance are in question in Cyprus.''
After his meeting with Rasmussen, President Sezer met with President Jacques Chirac of France.
During the meeting, President Chirac said, ''I am very interested in Catalhoyuk in Turkey. Catalhoyuk has a history of nearly 9 thousand years. I would like to visit Catalhoyuk and Cappadocia regions.''
President Sezer invited President Chirac to Turkey in 2003.
Stressing that France had been supporting Turkey's becoming a full member of the EU since the very beginning, President Chirac said that there was not any change in their strategical target about Turkey.
Recalling that all candidate countries should fulfill the Copenhagen criteria to start accession talks with the EU, President Chirac referred to the positive steps taken by Turkey in the last one and an half years, and expressed their satisfaction.
President Sezer noted that Turkey expected the EU to set a date at the Copenhagen Summit for opening of the accession talks with the EU.
President Chirac said that France attributed great importance to the issue of the ESDP, and expressed his regret over delay of the problem due to problems between Turkey and Greece. He said that finding a solution to the problem would be beneficial.
President Sezer said that Turkey had been expending efforts to find a solution, and stressed that the other countries should also assume the similar productive attitude.
Pointing out that they had been working on the solution plan of United Nations Secretary General Annan, President Sezer emphasized that it was impossible to come to a conclusion till December 12.
Noting that there was not pressure on the sides about time, President Chirac said that the solution plan of Annan could constitute a ground for solution talks.
President Chirac said that they were in favor of a formula that could satisfy Turkey.
Recalling that adoption of the resolution about so-called Armenian genocide by French Parliament caused serious damage in bilateral relations between Turkey and France, President Sezer gave the message that a new era could be started in these relations.
President Chirac said that they understood Turkey's sensitivity, and added that they were determined to further improve their relations with Turkey.
President Sezer will continue holding bilateral contacts on Friday.
He will return to Turkey after holding a press conference in Prague.
PRAGUE SUMMIT DECLARATION
Prague Summit Declaration issued by the heads of state and government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council said on Thursday that a genuine NATO-European Union (EU) strategic partnership could be achieved by solutions satisfactory to all the allies.
The leaders, who said that they committed themselves to transforming NATO with new members, new capabilities and new relationships with their partners, congratulated seven countries which were invited to begin accession talks to join the Alliance.
In the declaration, the leaders said that the accession of those new members would strengthen security for all in the Euro-Atlantic area and stressed that NATO's door would remain open to European democracies willing and able to assume the responsibilities and obligations of membership.
The declaration underscored that their efforts to transform and adapt NATO should not be perceived as a threat by any country or organization, but rather as a demonstration of their determination to protect their populations, territory and forces from any armed attack, including terrorist attack, directed from abroad.
Noting that they ratified a new package of measures to combat terrorism, the allies stated that they would continue their cooperation.
In the declaration, it was pointed out that they decided to create a NATO Response Force (NRF) and this force would be fully operational no later than October 2004.
The declaration said that they also decided to streamline NATO's military command arrangements and that this would be concluded in June 2003.
Stressing the determination of NATO member countris about improvement of military capabilities, the declaration stated that the allies decided to undertake new obligations.
The declaration stressed that capabilities to fight terrorism would also be improved and said that efforts would be exerted to prepare individuals against chemical, biological and radiological threats.
Noting that they would strengthen their capabilities to defend against cyber attacks, the leaders said in the declaration that they were determined to intensify and broaden their cooperation with Russia.
In the declaration, the leaders stressed their determination to enhance NATO-EU cooperation and touched on the importance of greated transparency and cooperation between the two organizations.
''We remain committed to making the progress needed on all the various aspects of our relationship, noting the need to find solutions satisfactory to all Allies on the issue of participation by non-EU European Allies, in order to achieve a genuine strategic partnership,'' the declaration read.
''We commend the United Kingdom and Turkey for their successive contributions as International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) lead nations, and welcome the willingness of Germany and the Netherlands jointly to succeed them,'' the declaration added.