ANKARA - Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday that reforms related with the European Union (EU) membership process would continue seriously.
Gul, who celebrated new year of journalists in charge of covering news of the prime ministry and chatted with them, said that they were well-prepared against problems of Turkey and considered themselves as ''reformist.''
They believed that radical reforms had to be made in Turkey, Gul noted.
Gul said that there were external developments occupying Turkey's agenda and those issues were among priorities of the government.
The EU Copenhagen Summit which took place on December 12 was very important, Gul stated.
Gul said, ''EU is a process. To this end, reforms related with the EU process will continue seriously. We believe that Turkey will be considered as a country which has taken further steps in the progress report of 2003. We will force the EU to start negotiations till the vey end. But, there are still some initiatives that we have to fulfil for this. We will closely deal with these laws after the parliament opens.''
They were trying to solve Cyprus issue in a realistic way, Gul pointed out.
Gul said that the Foreign Ministry and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) were fulfilling their responsibilities regarding this issue.
Many delegations were formed related with United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's report and negotiations, Gul noted.
Gul said that negotiations would continue that way and noted, ''(insolubility is a solution) is not our policy. Everybody has to be in an extraordinary effort to find a satisfactory solution.''
Touching on importance of developments regarding Iraq and the foreign policy of Iraq, Gul said, ''this is global peace and contribution to global peace. It is Turkey's duty to contribute to world peace. We attribute importance to peace whether it directly concerns us or not because we believe that people will be happy in unity not by clashes or conflicts. We attribute utmost importance to peace and stability in our region. Because, we are the main element of this region and the most important country in this region. We have many common points with the people of the regional countries. Thirdly, Turkey's interests come the first.''
Gul went on saying, ''in this context, I would like to especially underline that we are in a great efforts to solve the Iraqi issue without any need for a war. We also call on the regional people to act the same way. The visits I will pay to Middle Eastern countries in coming days will be as a part of this effort. And, we still believe that there are ways to solve this problem without any need for a war. Regional countries are countries we want to have good relations. Their regime only concern themselves. Every country has historical realities.''
''When we look at the issue in this respect, the regime and administrative types of those countries only concern them. We respect to all and don't interfere with their own problems. Our priority is good relations among countries and people. We have to improve these relations. We think that humanitarian and natural resources of this region should be used for happiness of the regional people,'' Gul added.
GUL SAYS THERE WILL SURELY BE AN AGREEMENT ABOUT IRAQ ISSUE
Upon a question whether he will have a bilateral meeting with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein for a solution that does not include war for Iraq issue, Gul said that they will exert efforts for a solution without war about Iraq issue. He added that other countries in the region will have the same effort and regarding with this situation, Turkey sent his ambassador to Baghdad with some messages.
Noting that a high-ranking delegation will depart for Baghdad, Gul said that Turkey and Iraq are holding consultative meetings.
When asked whether Turkey will have a written contract for the United States' responding the damages of Turkey in a possible operation against Iraq and whether a NATO decision or a bilateral agreement will be positive for Turkey in the use of bases, Gul said that Turkey's relations change according to each country and so every country has some historical realities on its own.
Gul said that Turkey did not forget Gulf Crisis experience and added that they discussed the methods and the damages and benefits of a possible operation. He added that the operation has political, military and economical aspects and those three are considered together in the meetings.