ANKARA - Foreign Minister George Papandreou of Greece, the current term president of the European Union (EU), said on Thursday that they were aware of Turkey's concerns about a possible war in Iraq.
He noted that initiatives of Ankara and the EU to find a peaceful solution to the Iraq issue in line with resolution no: 1441 of the United Nations Security Council would be brought onto agenda during his contacts in Ankara.
Papandreou arrived in Ankara to attend meeting of the EU Troika and to hold a series of contacts.
Addressing journalists at the airport, Papandreou said that it was his first visit to Ankara as the term president of the EU.
Noting that they would hold long and important talks on Turkey's future in Europe, Papandreou recalled that a significant decision was taken at the EU's summit in Copenhagen in December of 2002.
Stressing that Greece was in favor of putting into practice the decision taken at Copenhagen Summit about Turkey, Papandreou told reporters that in that case, an important decision could be taken on Turkey in 2004.
Noting that his contacts in Turkey would focus on issues such as reform package, the Cyprus question and Iraq, Papandreou said that they were aware of Turkey's concerns about a possible war in Iraq.
He added that initiatives of Ankara and the EU to find a peaceful solution to the Iraq issue in line with resolution no: 1441 of the United Nations Security Council would be brought onto agenda during his contacts in Ankara.
PAPANDREOU VISITS MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis has said that rapprochement between Turkey and Greece would be beneficial to not only their people but also peace, stability and coopration in the region.
Yakis and his Greek counterpart George Papandreou held a tete-a-tete meeting and they co-chaired a meeting between Turkish and Greek delegations on Thursday.
Later, they held a joint press conference.
Yakis said he was pleased to see Papandreou in Ankara again after his visit in December of 2002.
Noting that they had mainly discussed Turkish-Greek bilateral relations in their meeting, Yakis said that they had exchanged opinion on issues of bringing process of rapprochement with Greece to further points and creating new fields of cooperation.
Stating that they had also taken up regional and international issues, Yakis said, ''within this framework, we have taken first step in talks on the Iraq issue. We will take up this issue in detail in Troika meeting tomorrow.''
Yakis added that he believed Turkey and Greece would solve their problems and they would mutually progress toward a brilliant future.''
Papandreou said, ''I believe that Turkey and Greece can overcome various and difficult problems which have root deep in history.''
Noting that Greece had always supported Turkey's EU candidacy process, Papandreou told reporters that Turkey's EU process would be brought onto agenda of the EU Troika meeting on Friday.
Papandreou said that Yakis and he had discussed bilateral relations and new opportunities of cooperation.
Stressing that great progress had been recorded in relations between Turkey and Greece recently, Papandreou said that they would welcome formation of a new strategy in bilateral relations.
''I believe that Turkey and Greece can overcome various and difficult problems which have root deep in history,'' he said.
Papandreou said that they had decided to maintain the dialogue between Turkey and Greece.
Noting that they had also taken up the Cyprus question and the Iraq issue at the meeting, Papandreou said that Greece welcomed the meeting held in Istanbul with the participation of foreign ministers of regional countries in order to find a peaceful solution to the Iraq issue.
When asked whether or not any decision had been taken regarding a possible war in Iraq and whether or not Turkish troops would join such a war? Foreign Minister Yakis said, ''Turkish soldiers do not enter Iraq to fight. Turkish troops enter Iraq to prevent a possible inflow of Iraqi civilians to Turkey and to keep these people within Iraqi territories.''
When asked whether or not a solution would be reached in Cyprus till February 28, Papandreou said that the Cyprus question had caused problems in relations between Turkey and Greece for a long time. He said that taking into consideration the rapprochement between the two countries and the joint EU vision, there were important opportunities to find a solution.
Papandreou said that if President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot side reached compromise, some chapters of the plan of the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan could be changed.
GUL - PAPANDREOU MEETING
Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou said that there was still time to solve Iraq problem through peaceful ways.
Papandreou met Prime Minister Abdullah Gul for 45 minutes.
Speaking after the meeting, Papandreou said Iraqi issue was mainly discussed during his meeting with Gul.
Papandreou said they discussed how to coordinate efforts in this respect not only as neighbouring countries but also taking into consideration their EU Term Presidency. Papandreou underlined that the meeting in Istanbul was an important initiative.
Pointing out that Iraq should abide by resolution no:1441 of the U.N. Security Council, Papandreou said there was still time to solve the problem through peaceful ways.
Papandreou said a diplomatic success would be gained if Iraq fully abides by the U.N. Security Council resolutions and in case this is reflected to the reports of Hans Blix, the head of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspections Commission (UNMOVIC). Papandreou said strong messages should be given on the way to peace.
Stressing the importance of purifying the region from mass destruction weapons, Papandreou said a possible war would have very bad results not only for Turkey but for the whole region. He said they felt concern over this.
Underlining that the EU has a joint attitude against Iraqi issue, Papandreou said they carried out dialogue with all the EU members as the EU term president.
Papandreou said the joint attitude had to be determined in a way covering the candidate countries, stating that they would continue their studies with Turkey, which is a candidate country, in a coordinated way as long as possible.
Papandreou said they reached a consensus of opinion to continue contacts and coordinate the efforts.
Pointing out that they also talked about Turkish-EU relations at the meeting, Papandreou said accession partnership and new finance package issues were discussed within this scope.
Papandreou said they also discussed bilateral relations and Cyprus. He said they wanted to progress ahead of the point reached in Copenhagen regarding Cyprus issue, stating that they would make cooperation to get a result till February 28. Papandreou said finding a solution to Cyprus question was important for the future of the region and for Turkish-EU relations.
ERDOGAN - PAPANDREOU MEETING
Papandreou said that as the European Union (EU) Term President they wanted to make cooperation with Turkey regarding Iraq issue, recalling that Turkey was not only a neighboring country to Iraq, but at the same time a candidate to the EU.
Papandreou responded to the questions of reporters following his meeting with Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Papandreou said Iraq issue, Cyprus and reform package in Turkey were discussed during his fruitful meeting with Erdogan.
Pointing out that as the EU Term President they wanted to make cooperation with Turkey regarding Iraq issue, Papandreou said Turkey was not only a neighboring country to Iraq, but at the same time a candidate country to EU full membership.
Pointing out that they discussed Cyprus negotiations with Erdogan, Papandreou said they stated that the problem should be solved as soon as possible.
Papandreou said they also discussed reform process which would be discussed in a more detailed way during tomorrow's EU Troika Meeting.
Pointing out that he conveyed good wishes of Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis to Erdogan, Papandreou said they wanted to their best to accelerate Turkey's EU membership process.
When asked whether or not they examined the maps included in Annan plan during his contacts in Ankara, Papandreou said the maps were discussed by the U.N. and the sides on the island.
Responding to a question if the EU formed a joint attitude on Iraqi issue, and when recalled the recent statement of the eight EU countries, Papandreou said he did not share the views that the EU was separated within itself. He said the EU announced its attitude on Monday and sent an open message to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
Papandreou said the initiatives, made by some countries, not the 15 members, could have given the impression that they were separated, but that all of them were in consensus of opinon in implementation of the U.N. Security Council resolution no:1441, and finding a peaceful solution.
PRESIDENT SEZER RECEIVES PAPANDREOU
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer received on Thursday Foreign Minister George Papandreou.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal, Deputy Undersecretary Baki Ilkin, Presidential Foreign Affairs Chief Adviser Tacan Ildem, Greek Ambassador to Turkey Mihailis Cristidis and other officials were also in attendance at the meeting.
SEZER: TURKEY WOULD CONTINUE TO FULFILL THE REQUIREMENTS OF MEMBERSHIP TO EU WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE ENVISAGED TIMETABLE
Sezer said that Turkey would continue to fulfill the requirements of membership to the European Union (EU) in a determined way within the scope of the envisaged timetable, noting that the EU should also fulfill its responsibilities for Turkey within this process.
Presidential Press center issued a statement regarded with meeting of President Sezer with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou who is currently in Ankara to participate in a meeting that would take place with the EU troika.
Speaking at the meeting, Sezer said Turkey wanted to improve positive relations with Greece as it did with all its neighbours, stating that Turkey wanted to enlarge dialogue process. Sezer expressed belief that some bilateral problems would be solved at the end of this dialogue process.
Sezer said the decisions, which had been taken by the EU during Copenhagen Summit in December, were behind Turkey's expectations. Sezer said Turkey would nevertheless continue to fulfill the requirements of full membership to EU within the scope of the timetable that was envisaged. He said the EU should also fulfill its responsibilities against Turkey.
President Sezer stressed the importance of EU's evaluating well the rooted steps Turkey has been taking on the way to membership, and the European countries' preparing their public regarding Turkey's future membership.
Greek Foreign Minister Papandreou said relations between Turkey and Greece recorded an important progress, noting that the two countries have mutual views regarding many regional issues. He stressed that there were broad cooperation facilities between the two countries in regional level.
Papandreou said rapproachement between peoples of Turkey and Greece helped improvement of cooperation, and stated that solution of Cyprus question would facilitate improvement of bilateral relations.
Papandreou said Greece sincerely supported Turkey's attitude in Copenhagen summit, stressing that they did this as they believed this would be for the benefit of the two countries.
Papandreou said the decision taken in Copenhagen had a positive quality, stating that the EU would meet the expectations of Turkey in case it takes necessary steps. Papandreou said Greece, during its term presidency, wanted to help further improvement of Turkish-EU relations.
Iraqi issue was also discussed at the meeting. Papandreou said they attributed importance to cooperation between Turkey and the EU in this respect during their term presidency.
President Sezer wished success to Greece during its EU term presidency and expressed his best wishes to Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos and Greek people.