HELSINKI - Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen of Finland said on Tuesday that Turkey had been in full harmony with the Copenhagen criteria, adding that the European Union (EU) should give a positive response to Turkey's reform process at Copenhagen Summit in December, 2002 in order to strengthen Turkey's EU perspective.
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Lipponen held a joint press conference after their tete-a-tete meeting.
Speaking at the press conference, Prime Minister Lipponen congratulated Erdogan for the success of the AK Party in the general elections on November 3, 2002.
He said that he had held a very nice meeting with Erdogan on several issues including Turkey's EU perspective.
Recalling that they hosted the Helsinki Summit in 1999 in which Turkey's candidacy to the EU was announced, Prime Minister Lipponen said that their government had been supporting further development of relations with Turkey.
Noting that Erdogan had briefed him on current and planned reforms in Turkey, Prime Minister Lipponen said that he was very impressed with the reforms.
Stressing that Turkey had been in full harmony with the Copenhagen criteria, Prime Minister Lipponen said that the EU should give a positive response to Turkey's reform process at Copenhagen Summit in December 2002 in order to strengthen Turkey's EU perspective.
Meanwhile, Erdogan recalled that the step about Turkey's EU membership had been taken in Helsinki.
''We did not forget Prime Minister Lipponen's role in the EU's taking this step. I believe that Prime Minister Lipponen will maintain expending such sincere efforts in the coming period,'' he said.
Erdogan told reporters, ''a sound political power has formed in Turkey following the general elections on November 3, 2002. Turkish people expressed their confidence in the AK Party. As a result, the AK Party won two third of the seats at the parliament. Our new government will fulfill its duty with determination in Turkey's EU full membership process. The EU should set a date at its Copenhagen Summit for opening of accession talks with Turkey. Turkey is the only country which has not been given a date yet. Within the last 18 months, ruling and opposition parties, other political parties which are not represented at the parliament, non-governmental organizations and 80 percent of the people have proved their determination to become a full member of the EU.''
Erdogan said that the government is determined about this subject, adding that different developments will start with Turkey's membership to EU. He said, ''receiving only a negotiation date will also bring positive results. The approach of Muslim world to EU will be influenced positively. It is also very important as it will show how Islamic culture and democracy can exist together. This step will be a bridge for a compromise, a unification between civilizations, not for clash of civilizations and the most ideal model for this is Turkey. Besides, we do not consider and do not want to consider EU as a Christian club. But if we cannot receive a negotiation date in Copenhagen, then our people will have such suspicions. Because we have heard these from time to time.''
Recalling that Pope, German Prime Minister Helmut Kohl and European Union (EU) Convention President had such explanations, Erdogan said, ''we cannot say that these expressions bind them alone. Because those who have the authority of representation in politics have to think twice before they speak. Every expression they use binds not themselves, but their country, party, institution and foundation.''
Noting that he asked for support from Lipponen especially about this issue, Erdogan said that they gave the best example of this support in Helsinki. He said that he believed that they would give a similar example also in Copenhagen. ''Do not worry, Turkey is very determined concerning the Copenhagen Criteria. Do not forget this at all?''
Erdogan said that important steps were taken about issues such as torture, foreign foundations' opening branches in Turkey and Turkish foundations' opening branches in foreign countries and foundations' acquiring real property. He added that the Constitution is revised within the scope of European Convention on Human Rights and National Program. He said that there is a Turkey which takes steps about basic rights and freedoms, administration, thought, religion, conscience and freedom of expression.''
When asked, ''if Turkey is given a date at Copenhagen Summit of the European Union (EU) on December 12, 2002 for opening of accession talks, will it cause new developments on the Cyprus question?'' Erdogan told reporters, ''Turkey is ready to negotiate the solution plan of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. We consider the plan negotiable. The plan has both positive and negative aspects. We are in favor of finding a solution. Furthermore, we are in favor of sitting at the negotiation table about the Cyprus question on the basis of mutual self-sacrifice. We observed during our visit to Greece that Prime Minister Costas Simitis was also positive about the issue.''
Responding a question, Prime Minister Lipponen said that Erdogan had informed them on plans of the new government for reform process.
Prime Minister Lipponen expressed his belief that the reform process in Turkey would constitute a turning point.
He noted that Finland which hosted the EU summit in which Turkey's candidacy was announced in 1999, should be the last country preventing Turkey's progress.
Prime Minister Lipponen stressed that Finland would continue to support Turkey in its EU full membership process.