Gul: Conditions Asked From Turkey Have Been Fulfilled

ANKARA - Prime Minister Abdullah Gul departed for Copenhagen, Denmark where European Union (EU) Summit will be held on Wednesday.
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal, Deputy Undersecretary Baki Ilkin, Secretary General for EU Affairs Volkan Vural, Prime Ministry Chief Adviser Ahmet Davutoglu, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Adviser Berki Dibek, Foreign Ministry Consultant Gurcan Turkoglu and Prime Ministry Chief Adviser Avni Karslioglu accompanied Gul.
Gul said that Turkey had fulfilled the conditions necessary for start of accession talks with the European Union (EU), adding, ''under these conditions, there is not any pretext that the EU member countries can tell to Turkey. If they put forward a pretext, this would lack good will.''
Gul stressed that the EU would be the loser if a negotiation date was not given to Turkey under those conditions.
Speaking to reporters prior to his departure for Copenhagen on Wednesday, Gul said that the EU was going to hold one of the most important meetings in its history. Noting that this meeting closely concerned also Turkey and that ten new countries were about to join the 15-member bloc, Gul said, ''meanwhile, Turkey has prepared itself to win a definite date for opening of accession talks.''
Stating that they would hold meetings with the prime minister of EU member countries in Copenhagen, Gul said, ''as Turkey, we feel very comfortable while we are going to these meetings and we are going honorably. Because, we fulfilled the conditions of the club we want to join. And these conditions are the Copenhagen political criteria. In addition to the reform packages adopted in August, our government acted very rapidly soon after it came to power and presented two more packages to the parliament. The first of these packages includes thirty-two articles and it is currently being discussed at the parliament. When we arrive in Copenhagen, the package will totally be legalized. With these, I want to underline that the conditions asked from Turkey have been fulfilled. When candidate countries are taken into consideration, the number of countries that fulfilled the Copenhagen criteria as much as Turkey is not so much. Consequently, some of the ten candidate countries have not fulfilled those criteria as much as Turkey.''
''Under these conditions, there is not any pretext that the EU member countries can tell to Turkey. If they put forward a pretext, this would lack good will. We told this to the EU countries officials through their ambassadors in Ankara. There is a new political leadership in Turkey. This new political leadership is honest, trustworthy, brave and determined. This should be appreciated. If there are some uncertainties and several tactics are followed despite this attitude, we protect Turkey's honor. We have fulfilled our duties. We will explain these till the last minute and I suppose that they would see it and take appropriate decisions. Undoubtedly, preference is up to the EU countries. If they want a EU that plays strategic role in the world, they have to see that Turkey can make much contribution to the EU. Turkey's EU membership is in favor of not only Turkey but also the EU,'' he said.
Replying a question which said, ''you said you would protect Turkey's honor. Is there a plan B? What will you do if a satisfactory date is not given?'' Gul said, ''we don't have the same interest and excitement. Turkey continues to walk on its path. Although we experience problematic periods from time to time, Turkey has a great potential and power. Turkey will have a brilliant future. There is a party which came to power alone in Turkey. There is political stability. The EU would be the loser and it would be an organization that copes only with its internal problems and it would lose its power on the global issues and they would fail to foresee the future.'' When asked whether or not impositions like exclusion from military tenders would be in question, Gul said,''absolutely, there would be ways that Turkey would follow.''
Responding a question which said,'' President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is not going to Copenhagen. Have you ever thought of not going to Copenhagen?''Gul said, ''no. Because, we have to do our duties till the last minute. We will do our best to explain the facts and persuade them till the last minute. We will do these to fulfil our responsibilities. If we can't get a result despite all these, the responsibility will lie with the EU.''
When recalled of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader's statement saying they could recourse to referendum regarding operation against Iraq, Gul said, ''I don't know and haven't heard about it. I don't want to comment on such issues.''