COPENHAGEN - Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Denmark, which is the term president of the European Union (EU), said early on Friday that if Turkey fulfiled Copenhagen criteria, decision to start negotiations with Turkey in December 2004 would be evaluated by taking European Commission reports as a ground.
Stating that they wanted to send a strong ansd positive signal to Turkey, Rasmussen said that they appreciated strong determination of the new Turkish government about fulfilement of basic reforms.
Rasmussen said that reform packages which were presented to the parliament related with fulfilment of the Copenhagen political criteria indicated that strong steps were taken and noted that EU's target and wish was to improve relations with Turkey.
Noting that Turkey would be extended some support for Customs Union, commercial relations and pre-accession assistance to the union, Rasmussen said that they also took some more decisions.
Rasmussen said that if a decision that Turkey fulfilled Copenhagen criteria was taken by considering European Commission reports as a ground, the Council would open negotiations with Turkey in December 2004, adding that this would occur as soon as possible.
RASMUSSEN SAYS HE DOES NOT SEE ANY DIRECT LINK BETWEEN TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP PROCESS AND CYPRUS ISSUE
Asked about the difference of the proposal to open negotiations with Turkey in December 2004 and the German-French model, Rasmussen said that according to that model, negotiations would start in July 2005 in case of fulfilment of criteria.
However, Rasmussen noted, according to the last proposal, accession negotiations would be set immediately after a decision.
Responding to another question, Rasmussen said that he did not see any direct link between Turkey's EU membership process and Cyprus issue.
Rasmussen noted that it would not be right to add Cyprus issue to Copenhagen criteria when they considered the issue with Turkey's point of view while it was not possible to give up Copenhagen criteria for Cyprus according to point of view of the EU.
He did not think that Turkey would have problems with its neighbours related with Cyprus issue.
Asked if assurance was taken from candidate countries which would become EU member soon regarding the decision related with Turkey, Rasmussen said that they did not take up this issue yet.
Rasmussen stated that there were a responsible government and political leaders in Turkey.
Noting that relations with the EU was dependent on the steps to be taken by the government from now on, Rasmussen said that however, he did not see any problem.
Asked about Turkey's reaction to EU proposal, Rasmussen said that Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller informed Turkish delegation.
GUL, ERDOGAN AND YAKIS COME TOGETHER TO EVALUATE STATEMENT OF RASMUSSEN
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis came together early on Friday to evaluate statement of European Union (EU) Term President Denmark's Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
Prior to the statement of Rasmussen, Turkish delegation was informed about the decision to start negotiations with Turkey in December 2004 if it fulfilled Copenhagen criteria.
Then, Gul, Erdogan, Yakis and AK Party members had a meeting to evaluate the current situation.
During the meeting, it was noted that ''the draft paragraph on Turkey's EU full membership was away from understanding political will and determination of the Turkish government about accession to the EU.''
Sources said that the leaders noted during the meeting that there was still time and added that contacts to correct this paragraph would continue till the last moment.
(BRC) 13.12.2002