ANKARA - Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan returned to Turkey on Saturday after wrapping up his contacts in Danish capital Copenhagen.
ERDOGAN: TURKEY WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE DETERMINED STEPS ABOUT EU MEMBERSHIP TO ENTER THE NEXT DECADES AS A MORE POWERFUL COUNTRY
Erdogan held a press conference at Ankara's Esenboga.
''Turkey has been expending serious efforts about the EU full membership in recent years. Important constitutional amendments were made especially in the last eighteen months. These amendments even shocked the EU member countries,'' he said.
Erdogan told reporters, ''the new government has begun taking serious steps about EU adjustment process and constitutional amendments. Turkey will continue to take determined steps about the EU membership in order to enter the next decades as a more powerful country. Because, ideal of most of the Turkish people is to modernize Turkey by protecting our values. Shortly after we won the general elections on November 3, 2002, we paid visits to the EU member countries. We proved our determination to become a full member of the EU during these visits. Our determination increased foreign leaders' respect to our country.''
ERDOGAN: TURKEY GOT THE SECOND BEST RESULT
''We want Turkish people to have living standards higher than the standards of even the industrialized countries of the world. We have been pursuing the ideal of a more democratic and developed Turkey which has put into practice human rights in every field. As a result of the decision taken at Copenhagen summit, Turkey has reached a serious stage to get more democracy and more qualified living standards,'' he said.
Erdogan said, ''the decision taken by the EU members, carried relations between Turkey and the EU to a brand new dimension. Turkey has entered a new period in which it will hold more intense contacts with the EU. During this period, Turkey increases its performance in democratization process. In December of 2004, Turkey will start accession talks with the EU. The decision, of course, was not the full response to our political determination. However, relations between Turkey and the EU have entered a new stage with this decision. The road map is in favor of Turkey. Turkey-EU relations have clarified.''
''We want the best for our people. Turkey got the second best result at the EU's Copenhagen summit. The decision taken at the summit did not meet fully our expectations, because we wanted the best for our people. This decision will make important contributions to our people's will for political change, democratization and modernization. We will continue to expend efforts with determination.''
Thanking to those who extended support to them, Erdogan said, ''I once again thank all our political staff. I thank especially our government which has already shown that it is a brilliant republic government and displayed a serious performance. At the same time, I want to thank the leader and members of the opposition party that deployed a very constructive position during this process. Also I want to thank non-governmental organizations which have not left us alone during this difficult journey.''
Replying a question which said, ''do we consider your holding a press conference here a proof for your prime ministry post in March 2003?'' Erdogan said, ''I leave this to your opinion.''
When asked whether or not he had made a promise on behalf of Turkey during his contacts, Erdogan said that as the AK Party leader, he could make promise only to political party leaders.
''I don't have the authority to shape the state policy or make promise on behalf of the state. Besides, I did not make a promise to any state official during my visits to foreign countries.''
Responding a question which said, ''you earlier said a referendum might be held regarding Iraq issue. Can you clarify your words?'' Erdogan said, ''first of all, I did not make such a statement. Secondly, our Constitution does not include such an institution. I only said that parliaments in the world can hold referendum in order to persuade public opinion regarding such extraordinary issues.''
ERDOGAN: I WILL PAY VISITS TO RUSSIA, TURKISH REPUBLICS IN CENTRAL ASIA AND PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA TO INCREASE OUR TRADE VOLUME WITH THESE COUNTRIES
''I have completed my tour to the European Union (EU) member countries. Now, a tour to the Russian Federation, Turkish Republics in Central Asia and the People's Republic of China is on our agenda to increase our trade volume with these countries,'' he said.
When asked whether or not the 57th government had had deficiencies about the EU full membership, Erdogan said, ''it will be unfair to say yes.''
When asked whether or not an intervention would be made in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) for solution of the Cyprus question, Erdogan said, ''negotiations will continue till February 28. TRNC is an independent state. This state will take its own decisions. We cannot make any intervention.''