ANKARA - Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc sent a letter to the European Union (EU) countries' parliament speakers, requesting support of them for Turkey to be given a negotiation date at Copenhagen Summit.
Arinc said in his letter that most of Turkish people knew that the country was a part of Europe for centuries and believed that the country deserved to be a member of the EU.
''As parliament speaker in the new legislative term, I am pleased to confirm that most of Turkish people deeply shared support of ruling and opposition parties to Turkey's full membership vision to the EU,'' Arinc noted in his letter to EU Parliament Speaker Pat Cox and parliament speakers of the EU member countries.
Stating that the parliament has prepared comprehensive three separate packages in political criteria with its adjustment studies since October 2001 and recorded very important progress with the constitutional arrangements, Arinc said that Civil Code which went into effect in January 2002 was a turning point in reflection of the constitutional amendments to the implementation.
Stressing that emergency rule was lifted in southeastern Diyarbakir and Sirnak as of end of November, Arinc said, ''the parliament has determination to move forward all steps taken on the path to the EU so far, implement them soon and complete urgently and totally adjustment process studies with new reform packages.''
Arinc stressed in his letter that adjustment studies would be fulfilled soon with support of ruling and opposition parties and added, ''in response to our efforts, I think that we deserve to wait for an determined and effective support of EU Parliament and all EU member countries' parliaments to Turkey to be given a negotiation date at Copenhagen Summit on December 12 .''
''Turkey's integration with Europe on the foundation of system of contemporary values will be a positive and constructive effect on glance of Mediterranean, Black Sea, Middle East and Caspian countries to Europe,'' Arinc added.