Ankara In Close Contact With E.U. For New Accession Partnership Accord Expected To Be Announced In April

ANKARA - Ankara intensifies contacts with the European Union (EU) for the new Accession Partnership Accord, which is expected to be announced on April 18.
Ankara continues contacts and consultations since January with the EU about the new accord. The first political dialogue will be formed in Turkish-EU Association Committee next week in Brussels. Foreign Ministry continues preparatory studies about the meeting in Brussels.
A high ranking diplomat said Ankara did not have a draft about the new accord, stating that, ''we are not at that point yet. We don't have a written text yet.''
The diplomat said they would get detailed information about the new document in Brussels, stating that they would convey the views of Ankara about the accord during the meeting.
The official said Ankara did not expect a ''surprise'' in Accession Partnership Accord pertaining to political criteria and non-political sections.
The EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen in his contacts in Ankara pointed out that there would not be new criteria or surprises in the new document.
(AY-AÖ) 05.03.2003