BERLIN - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Wednesday that he hoped Germany's support to Turkey's EU membership to continue also in Copenhagen summit.
Sezer, who is currently in Germany, met with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. Speaking in the news conference he held with Schroeder after the meeting, Sezer said that ''we know that Germany has a powerful status in EU and it will have an important effect at this decision stage. I hope my visit will contribute to improvement of bilateral relations and Turkey's EU membership.''
Sezer said that he discussed the Turkish-EU relations in a detailed way with Schroeder, adding that ''I had the opportunity to give information about the radical reforms undertaken by Turkey in the last 1,5 years. I told him that there is great resolution in Turkish public opinion to start accession talks with the EU following the Nov.3 elections. I also told him that the Turkish government is also resolved in this issue.''
Recalling that Turkey is in economic crisis for two years, Sezer said that ''the economic situation is improving, and we expect this to have positive effect on our trade. I hope this recovery to have good effect on investments and commercial cooperation.''
Sezer said that he had a sincere meeting with German President Johannes Rau and German Chancellor, adding that ''we took up the multidimensional relations between the two countries with Schroeder. Germany is a historical ally and partner. Germany come the first among the countries which has trade with Turkey and comes the third among the countries which invest in Turkey. We focused on the possibilities to broaden our cooperation as being two partners which have strategic interests.''
President Sezer said that they also decided to speed up the studies aiming to improve the educational and social positions of Turkish citizens living in Germany during his meeting with Schroeder.
Schroeder said in his part that Turkey's EU membership will be to the interest of Germany, adding that ''Germany has interest in EU's giving membership perspective to Turkey in respect of strengthening of democratic circles in Turkey. No body in Germany and Europe wants radical and anti-western circles to get powerful.''
Schroeder said that they are pleased with the ongoing reform process in Turkey, praising the efforts of Sezer regarding the reform process and said that the new government has also shown its resolution to continue this process.
Schroeder said that Turkey is a NATO country and it has association agreement with EU since 1963, adding that ''in this respect, I am against Turkey's leaving the path to EU.''
Schroeder said that he discussed in details the issue of giving a date to Turkey to start accession talks, adding that ''a sign which is beyond the decisions taken in Brussels will be given in Copenhagen summit.''
SEZER VISITS BERLIN STATE PRIME MINISTER WOWEREIT
Sezer went to Berlin Municipality Palace after meeting with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and received Berlin State Prime Minister Claus Wovereith there.
Speaking in the meeting, Sezer said that rather than getting involved in unnecessary discussions about Turkey, it will be better if one focuses on the contributions Turkey can bring to political, economic and social life in EU and if one deals with the issue in respect of interests of Germany.
''Is Turkey's EU membership against the interests of Germany and the German people? Or a Turkey which is integrated with the EU will become a better partner for Germany?'' said Sezer noting that searching for an answer to these questions will be better.
''Our expectation from EU Copenhagen summit is EU's fixing a date to start accession talks with Turkey. Starting the negotiations will not be an end, but it will form the beginning of a new stage in the path that goes to membership. It should not be also forgotten that the membership won't take place soon and that it will take some time,'' Sezer said.
Sezer said that Turks living in Germany see this country as if it is their homeland, adding that Turks living in Berlin who contribute to economic, social and cultural lif e in Berlin has proved the invalidity of certain claims put forward regarding Turkey's EU membership.
Stating that Berlin would also play a leading role in Turkey's EU membership path, Sezer said that this big city which had a significant place in the European history would enlighten EU's future opening to globalization.
President Sezer said that Berlin was a city where Turkish and German people lived together in peace and stated that Turkish people who started to migrate to the city 40 years ago recorded progress in adjusting to German society.
Stressing that there has been a dispute about Turkey's EU membership in Germany recently, Sezer said, ''it is certain that Turkish people are European. Turkey had been a part of Europe for centuries. The history of Europe was written with the Turkish people. Germany, which had good relations with Turkey and Turkish people during its history, cooperated with us.''
Sezer said that Turkey always attributed great importance to Germany's friendship and Germany always attributed importance to the friendly relations with Turkey and noted, ''there are very intensive relations between Turkey and Germany. The countries are important for each other. Improvement of the relations in every field was beneficial for the two countries.''
SEZER: GERMAN CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER SAID THAT HE HAS SOME CONCERNS ABOUT TURKEY'S PUTTING INTO PRACTICE THE REFORMS
Holding a press conference at Turkish Embassy in Berlin after wrapping up his contacts, President Sezer said, ''during my meeting with German Chancellor Schroeder, I reiterated that Turkey had fulfilled Copenhagen criteria. In response, Mr. Schroeder said that they appreciated the reforms in Turkey, but they had some concerns about Turkey's putting into practice these reforms.''
''I stressed that Turkey could be given a more positive signal at the Copenhagen Summit of the European Union (EU) than the one given at the Brussels Summit. 15 member countries will take a decision unanimously at the Copenhagen Summit. Therefore, attitude of a country is not important. I think that the uncertainty about setting a date for opening of accession talks with Turkey, has still been continuing. According to my point of view, a certainty will appear on December 8 or 10,'' he said.
Stressing that Germany could not take a decision on its own, President Sezer told reporters, ''I got the impression that Mr. Schroeder did not want to explain his view without waiting for the decision of other EU countries.''
When asked whether or not the Cyprus question was brought onto agenda at the meeting, President Sezer said, ''I brought the issue onto agenda. During my meetings within the framework of NATO Summit in Prague, some heads of state and government told me that if a step was taken about solution of the Cyprus question, it would be easy for Turkey to get a date for opening of accession talks with the EU. I responded them that it was not correct to connect Turkey's EU full membership process with the Cyprus question. Greek Cypriot side's membership should have not been accepted before finding a solution to the Cyprus question.''
Responding a question about the lawsuit filed against representatives of German foundations in Turkey, President Sezer said, ''President Johannes Rau of Germany referred to this issue. He said that German foundations had been contributing to democratization process in Turkey. And I told him that legal status of these foundations were determined in the new legal arrangements. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveyed these arrangements to Germany Embassy. Turkish jurisdiction is as unbiased as German jurisdiction. We have to wait for results of the investigation. I want everyone to rely on Turkish justice.''
Responding another question about Turkish people living in Germany, President Sezer said, ''Turkish community has entered a harmony process with German society. The problem of language is of great importance to this end. Turkish people living in Germany should learn German language.''
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis who accompanied President Sezer, said, ''earlier, I met with President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). I informed him on my contacts in several European countries. I got the impression that President Denktas tought that the plan of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan was negotiable. However, there are some points in the plan which were difficult to accept. President Denktas will sent a response to Mr. Annan. We will continue to support President Denktas and the TRNC.''
Later, President Sezer left Berlin for Turkey.