Erdogan: We Believe That Our Country Deserves To Get A Date To Start Eu Full Membership Negotiations

ANKARA - Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan left of Copenhagen on Sunday to meet with Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Prime Minister of Denmark, the EU Term President. Erdogan said they believed that Turkey deserved to get a date in Copenhagen Summit to start full membership negotiations.
Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis, representatives of NGOs, and journalists accompany Erdogan.
Speaking to reporters prior to his departure, Erdogan said he and Rasmussen would exchange views about the meetings he had with the leaders of EU member countries and studies about the adjustment laws.
Pointing out that they would proceed to the United States on Monday evening and that they would have an intense program, Erdogan said they would again return to Denmark following their programs. Erdogan said they would closely cover the studies in the summit.
Erdogan said, ''we will exert efforts to get a date till the end of 2003 to start full membership negotiations.''
Recalling that Turkey was a country waiting for 40 years to get a date to start full membership negotiations, Erdogan said, ''the things came to the final point because Turkey is the only country which is not given a date and which is more ready than the other countries. We believe that our country deserves to get a date. We hope that our expectations will be fulfilled in December 12 Copenhagen Summit.''
When asked how he evaluated the statement of Rasmussen which said a timetable would not be set for Turkey, Erdogan said he did not believe that Rasmussen made such a statement, and that he did not want to believe this.
Erdogan said Rasmussen, in their previous meetings, pointed out that he would not be able to say anything till to the last moment as he was the term president.
When asked whether or not he has concerns that Turkey would not be given a date at the last point, Erdogan said he did not want to be pessimistic. Erdogan said the EU countries were going through an examination, and that they should be successful in this examination.
Erdogan said, ''strategical interests are in question both for them and for Turkey. I don't think that they would refuse the strategical interests.''
Responding to a question about Cyprus, Erdogan said, ''our priority is the EU. Cyprus and others are separate issues, they are not within Copenhagen Criteria. We consult them when necessary. Cyprus is not included in December 12 process for us.''