THE HAGUE - Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said on Friday that they approached positively to opinion of an appointment rather than a negotiation date to be given to Turkey at Copenhagen Summit and added that they were favor of ''date for date''.
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Balkenende held a joint press conference following the meeting.
Balkenende said that there were some concerns on ''human rights, role of army and other issues'' related to Turkey at his meeting with Erdogan.
Stating that they discussed economic and political relations with Turkey at the meeting, Balkenende said that the most important issue of meeting was enlargement process of the European Union (EU) and Turkey's position.
He said that they assessed the report of the European Commission and added that they explained at the meeting that there should be an appointment expression for Turkey in the report.
Stressing that exchanging views was very beneficial for the two sides, Balkenende said that Erdogan's visit to the other countries was important.
Erdogan said that he paid those visits for Turkey to be given a negotiation date and noted that Turkey, which became a candidate country at Helsinki Summit, was the only country which could not get negotiation date.
Stating that Turkey was more ready for membership than other countries which got negotiation date, Erdogan said that ruling and opposition parties, nongovernmental organizations and 80 percent of people had determination to enter the EU. He added that there was no such kind of support even in the EU member countries.
Erdogan said, ''Turkey will remove deficiencies related to Copenhagen criteria. We search for support in the Netherlands which we have a friendship coming from past. We want this support from Balkenende in the Netherlands where almost 350,000 Turkish citizens live. We held negotiations on the issue and said that we do not consider the EU as a Christian club. We explained that we want to see EU as a system of political values. But, we also explained that not giving a negotiation date to Turkey in Copenhagen will cause 20 percent of group of people to interpret it differently. Then, we will face with these questions; is EU a Christian club? why Turkey is not taken to the union? because it has 780 thousand square meters of land and 65-70 million of population.''
Erdogan said that Turkey had strategic interests and the EU also had strategical interests with Turkey's joining the union and added that such an event would change point of view of the countries in the Mediterranean, Black Sea and Caspian basin to the EU.
Stating that Turkey has made significant constitutional amendments in 18 months, Erdogan said, ''there are some deficiencies in adjustment and implementation. AK Party power will remove these deficiencies. For example, torture will be removed. The obstacles in front of freedom of thought and expression, freedom to organize, freedom of religion and belief will be lifted.''
When asked what were the deficiencies Turkey had, Balkenende said that there were reports prepared by European Commission for all candidate countries according to Copenhagen criteria and stated that there were positive expressions about Turkey in that report.
Stating that there were very important developments on law and democracy in Turkey, Balkenende said that there were still some hesitations about human rights and role of army.
He went on saying, ''that is why European Commission and many European countries had some concerns related to a definite negotiation date to be given to Turkey.''
Noting that they exchanged views on such issues, he stated that they said that they approached positively to view of appointment rather than a negotiation date to be given to Turkey at Copenhagen Summit, but they would evaluate the issue again.
Balkenende said that the important thing was how reforms were implemented and how other arrangements would pass from the parliament in Turkey.
Upon another question, Balkenende said that they were favor of ''date for date'' and added that Turkey should record progress in role of army and human rights.
ERDOGAN HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE IN THE HAGUE
THE HAGUE - Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that the understanding of setting ''date for date'' to Turkey during Copenhagen Summit would mean to put off Turkey.
Erdogan, who held a press conference at Mercure Hotel, informed the reporters about his contacts in the European Union (EU) countries.
Stating that he exerted efforts for Turkey to be given a negotiation date at Copenhagen Summit, Erdogan recalled that he visited 14 countries and added that he would also go to Austria in beginning of December.
Erdogan noted that there would be significant developments, if Turkey integrated with the EU and said that there would be compromise between the civilizations and Turkey would play a role of bridge.
Noting that they did not want to see the EU as a Christian club, but as a system of political values, Erdogan said that Turkey's being only country which could not get a negotiation date was unfair.
When asked what his direction would be if Turkey is not taken to the union, he said that the process would continue and added that fulfillment of Copenhagen criteria would be for the benefit of Turkish people.
Addressing the representatives of Turkish organizations, he said, ''you should demand a definite date for the negotiation. Don't demand a different thing.'' Erdogan added that they wanted a date for negotiation.