Gul: We Expected A Better Date

COPENHAGEN - Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday, ''we expected a better date for opening of accession talks with the European Union (EU). The Turkish government has done its utmost till the last moment. As the government, we rely on ourselves. We believe that we should maintain the reform process for our people, not for the EU full membership.''
Prime Minister Gul held a press conference following his meetings with President Jacques Chirac of France and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
When asked, ''can we come to the conclusion from the decision of the EU that the EU does not want Turkey?'' Prime Minister Gul said, ''the only condition for the EU full membership is Copenhagen political criteria. EU officials told us that Turkey could start opening talks with the EU after fulfilling Copenhagen political criteria. The EU Commission will release its progress report for Turkey in 2003. The report will unveil whether or not Turkey fulfilled Copenhagen criteria.''
When asked, ''former president of France said that Turkey's membership would be the end of the EU. Does the EU accept this view?'' Prime Minister Gul said, ''there are some different views in the EU, and it is quite normal. Some circles claim that the EU is a Christian club. However, Copenhagen summit revealed that this claim was wrongful. Because, the EU set a date for opening of accession talks with Turkey. However, this date was not the one we desired. If Turkey becomes a full member of the EU, it will be the success of a Muslim and democratic country. Turkey's membership will enrich the EU.''
When asked, ''number of EU member countries will increase to 25 on May 1, 2004. Can Turkey get a date then?'', Gul said that they attribute importance to this and he expressed this at the meeting, and he added that the two leaders said that they discussed this subject and the new attendant countries will certainly not object this. He said that the leaders conveyed that if some artificial objections happen against the criteria, 15 countries will certainly disapprove this, and that they do not want to see new criteria on table and they will start negotiations with Turkey. Gul added that two leaders said that the negotiation will be held in a later date, if it does not in 2003.
When a reporter said ''at Helsinki Summit in 1999, Turkey was asked to solve its border problem until 2004. It was stated that if Turkey cannot solve this, the problem would be brought to the Hague Court of Justice. Will Aegean problem be brought as a condition to Turkey in December 2004?'', Gul said that ''our all effort was to receive a date before 2004, it was an effort to start negotiation date. We did what was necessary. Leaders of EU countries gave the last decision. There were countries both supported us and objected us due to various reasons among those countries. One of those countries which supported us is Greece. Thus, these were brought onto agenda in bilateral meetings. There were conversations that such subjects will not cause problems in Turkey's starting negotiation. Thus, we do not expect a problem in this aspect.''
Upon a question whether it is a date or not and he is pleased with that decision, Gul said that not only they but also whole Turkey with its ruling power and opposition party did their best, adding that the decision is taken by the leaders of EU countries.
When a journalist said, ''Turkey's EU horizons stay open, however this situation, which is valid for Turkey, does not seem the same for Turkish Cypriot people. Although TRNC people could be a part of the EU today like the Greek cypriots, they feel themselves sad. What will your aid to the TRNC people as the government from now on?'' Gul said, ''you mentioned an important point. The question regarded with accession of Turkish Cypriot side to the EU has not ended here. Negotiations will continue till February 28. Our government exerts efforts to solve this question. We approach positively. There is a period, even if short, to reach a result regarded with the problem within the framework of Kofi Annan's proposal. We will concentrate on this more in the coming days. We hope that we will reach a result which will satisfy both sides.''
Gul said, ''we were expecting a better date. As the Turkish government, we did our best till to the last moment. We rely on ourselves. We believe that those reforms should be made in Turkey for Turkish people.''

ERDOGAN: THE DATE COULD BE FIRST HALF OF 2004, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT HAS BEEN SECOND HALF OF 2004
COPENHAGEN - AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that ''the date could be the first half of 2004, but it has been the second half of 2004 unfortunately. Despite everything, uncertainties ended and this is the success of Turkey.''
Responding to questions of journalists in his news conference, Erdogan said that ''negotiations on the island would continue until February 28.''
''We also want to meet the Maastrich criteria as they are also related with improving the living standards of our people...Our target is to increase the national income per capita to 5,000 U.S. dollars at the end of five years,'' he said.
Erdogan said that they expected to get a date for 2003, adding that ''France and Germany wanted 2005. The result is a mid-way.''
Erdogan said that the government's important target is to increase commercial relations with neighbors and the whole world, adding that ''we have to open Turkey to the world. We must give hand in hand with investors and form markets everywhere.''
''If there is no extraordinary situation, the date given to us for the end of 2004 will be our date to start negotiations,'' he said.
When asked if there is an assurance about the ten new countries that will join the EU regarding the position of Turkey, Erdogan said that French President Chirac told him and Prime Minister Abdullah Gul that 'don't be worried about the ten countries, I got their promise. They won't have negative effect on your position.'
Erdogan said that studies to join the EU will continue and that they would set up an Integration Commission to monitor the EU process.
Erdogan said that they continuously consulted with TRNC about the developments.
''We will continue our studies until the EU Commission Report on progress of Turkey to be published in 2003. Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi will the prime minister of Italy, EU term President at that date and he is very positive to us,'' he said.
Upon a question, Erdogan said that an invitation came from EP's liberal democrat group to AK Party.
Noting that AK Party does not think of joining the Christian Democrats, Erdogan said ''there is xenophobia in them. They resist Turkey's EU membership.''
Erdogan said that they didn't bargain with Bush Iraqi issue.
Erdogan added that he would go to Russia and Turkish Republics at the end of December.
GUL AND ERDOGAN TO RETURN TO TURKEY ON SATURDAY
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan will return to Turkey on Saturday after wrapping up their contacts in Copenhagen.
Gul and Erdogan will return to Turkey by separate planes.