Tuzmen: We Expect The Eu To Set A Date For Opening Of Accession Talks With Turkey

ATHENS - State Minister Kursat Tuzmen said on Sunday, ''we expect the European Union (EU) to set a date at its Copenhagen Summit for opening of accession talks with Turkey.''
Speaking at the opening dinner of Turkish-Greek Business Council meeting in Greek capital Athens, Tuzmen said that Turkey had had the necessary will to reach its target of EU full membership.
''We believe that our friend and ally Greece will play an influential role in Turkey's getting a date for opening of accession talks with the EU. Turkey has fulfilled most of Copenhagen criteria with the reforms approved by the parliament on August 3, 2002. Important steps have been taken in economy in the last one year. Now, we are working on a new plan,'' he said.
Recalling that Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and he had paid visits to Luxembourg and the Netherlands a few days ago, Tuzmen said, ''we paid visits to 14 countries. During our contacts in these countries, we stressed that Turkey should be given a date for opening of accession talks with the EU.''
''Turkey has been playing a significant role in the global will which was formed against international terrorism following the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001,'' he stressed.
Tuzmen noted, ''Turkey aim at further improving its relations with Greece and solving the problems peacefully. The new government has a sound will to maintain the dialogue process with Greece.''
''Although trade volume between Turkey and Greece has been increasing day by day, it does not reflect the real potential of our countries. Developing countries have great trade volumes with their neighboring countries. Turkey targets to increase its trade volumes with neighboring countries. Share of Turkey's trade with neighboring countries in its total trade increased to 11 percent in 2001,'' he said.
Tuzmen said that foreign trade volume of Greece is 40 billion dollars and Turkey's is 80 billion dollars, adding that the total volume becomes 120 billion dollars. He said that the trade amount between the two countries is below one billion dollars.
Noting that they should increase this amount to ten billions and ten percents, Tuzmen said that the target as a first step should be a volume worth of three billion dollars, adding that it will be an easy target to reach.
Tuzmen said that the two country have many problems but there is a will to solve them and he added that supporting each other in EU will eliminate the problems. He said that he believed that they will solve the problems peacefully.
Greek Development Minister Apostolos Athanasios Tsokhatzopoulos said that Greece supports Turkey in EU's giving a negotiation date in Copenhagen Summit. He added that the cooperation between Turkey and Greece will have a successful future and the region also needs this cooperation.
Noting that the two countries enter an important period with the coming of Copenhagen Summit, Tsokhatzopoulos said that EU will take a decision about its enlargement on December 12, adding that accession of Cyprus to EU is also in the agenda which is an important turning point for Greece and Turkey.
Tsokhatzopoulos said that United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's Cyprus Plan can be supported, adding that it is pleasing that both sides of Cyprus are positive about the plan. He said that accession of Cyprus as a whole will be very positive for the cooperation of Greece and Turkey.
Tuzmen will attend the meetings of Turkish-Greek Business Council tomorrow and will depart from Athens on December 3.