ANKARA - Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Costas Karamanlis, the leader of the Greek New Democracy (ND) Party, on Monday.
Speaking to reporters following the meeting which lasted for about 45 minutes, Erdogan recalled that Karamanlis with whom he met in Athens in his tour to European countries approached positively to Turkey's getting a negotiation date from the European Union (EU).
Stating that he had been pleased with Karamanlis's attitude, Erdogan said that Karamanlis came to Turkey to continue to hold mutual contacts after the meeting between them in Athens.
Erdogan said that mutual visits were positive steps in improvement of relations between Turkey and Greece and noted, ''I believe that those visits will yield positive results in a period that Cyprus issue became a significant issue due to February 28 process.''
Stating that he had no doubts that Greece, as EU term president, would contribute to Turkey's EU membership process in that period, Erdogan thanked Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis for his positive attitude which he earlier assumed.
Karamanlis said that they reiterated their support for Turkey's EU membership at the meeting and stated that they were in favor of Turkey's joining the European family, but Turkey should fulfil necessary criteria for EU membership.
Touching on importance of solution of Cyprus issue, Karamanlis said that they supported Turkish government's steps on its EU membership path and added that it would be beneficial to Turkish people and to security in the region.