Gul Says Their Target As A Reform Government Is To Adjust To Political Criteria In Direction Of Highest Standards In Eu

ANKARA - Prime Minister Abdullah gul said on Tuesday that their target as a reform government was to adjust to political criteria in the accession process and after membership in the direction of the highest standards in the European Union (EU).
The Prime Ministry Press Center issued a statement related with an article of Prime Minister Abdullah Gul published in early copy of French Le Monde daily dated December 11, 2002.
Gul told Le Monde that Turkey's reaching an unreturnable point in EU membership would have multi-dimensional positive strategic, political, economic and cultural reflections on both Turkey and the EU.
''The EU will increase credibity of basic values forming the essence of the union, particularly ethnic, religious and cultural tolerance, in the world by accepting Turkey as a member,'' Gul said.
Gul noted that the EU would be at a stage of making a decision on enlargement process at Copenhagen summit due on December 12 and 13.
Giving a definite date to immediately open accession negotiations with Turkey at the Copenhagen summit would take under guarantee Turkey-EU relations which had a 40 years of history, Gul said.
Gul stated that the Ankara Agreement between Turkey and the EU was signed on September 12, 1963 and that this agreement foresaw partnership as a process aiming at full membership.
Customs Union entered into force on January 1, 1996 between Turkey and the EU by depending on this basis, Gul said.
Gul pointed out that Turkey was a part of ''enlargement'' process of the EU since 1999 Helsinki summit.
Announcement of Turkey's EU candidacy at the Helsinki summit of 1999 was a new milestone in Turkey-EU relations, Gul said.
Gul noted that the EU and Turkey confirmed that their association and partnership aimed at full membership in Helsinki.
''Turkey has exerted all efforts to be in harmony with the EU's enlargement process. Turkey priorily have taken necessary steps for fulfilment of political criteria. Necessary measures for implementation of these steps have been taken. A part of these mentioned steps are like radical formation deeply affecting socio-culture of a country. Economic infrastructure has been completed at a great extent. Our target as a reform government is to adjust to political criteria in the accession process and after membership in the direction of the highest standards in the EU. My government prepared two comprehensive adjustment law packages immediately after gaining the vote of confidence by taking into consideration expectations of the EU Commission and EU member countries and mainly our people. These packages were submited to parliament on December 3 and 4. The newly-elected parliament started to priorily take up these packages,'' Gul said.
Gul added, ''laws on fight against torture, freedom of expression, press and association, detention conditions are being reviewed in the packages. The packages also harmonize Political Parties Law and Deputy Election Law with the constitutional amendment made in 2001, facilitate immovable property acquisition of non-Muslim foundations, make re-trial within the scope of decisions of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) easier, and includes decisions which have become final so far within the scope of this arrangement.''
Prime Minister Gul pointed out that the great importance which the government attributed to the improvement of non-governmental organizations was clearly stated in arrangements in both of the adjustment bills.
Gul stressed that ''zero tolerance'' approach was targeted in fight against torture and maltreatment.
Stating that Turkey went beyond standards of some EU countries with those arrangements, Gul said nobody should have doubts that Turkey fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria from now on.
Gul said Turkish authorities were getting prepared to continue cooperation and intense consultations with the EU Commission and the member countries in implementation process of new arrangements.
Gul said they expected a date to be set for Turkey to start full membership negotiations before completion of new enlargement process, stressing that thus uncertainity with respect to the next stage of EU full membership process would be removed. He said Turkey's EU full membership will have very positive stragetic, political, economic and cultural reflections both to Turkey and the EU.
Gul said, ''EU full membership of my country is a national target which majority of my people supported with all its dynamic sections. Agreement of the ruling and opposition parties to improve EU full membership process is the biggest assurance that the political will in question would be implemented.''
Gul said, ''the reforms which Turkey made to fulfill Copenhagen political criteria and to adjust with its acquisitions forms the necessary basis to take a decision to start full membership negotiations immediately. The scope and quality of the reforms make this expectation legal. To this end, the searches and interim formulas apart from setting a date to Turkey to start full membership negotiations will not meet expectations of our government and people, will create disillusionment, and will not be encouraging.
Pointing out that Turkey considered itself a European country with its history, geography, and values system, Gul said Turkish Republic became a part of the European values system as a result of an adjustment process that continued for a very long time.
Gul said Turkey, being a key element of Europe's defense and security for 50 years within the NATO alliance, is an inseparable part of Europe.
Noting that Turkey was a model connecting modernism with its own identity, Islam and secular democracy and social legal state, Gul said importance of this model was better understood in the international conjuncture the world was going through.
Gul said the EU, by accepting Turkey as member, will increase credibility of fundamental values like ethincs, religion, culture and tolerance which constitute the core of the union, throughout the world. ''Historical hostilities in Europe will be left behind. Lasting peace and stability will be taken under guarantee in Southeast Europe. Thus Europe will be a global force which contribute more to the world peace and welfare.''