German Chancellor Schroeder Says Eu Accession Talks Will Take Time

Turkish Press
May 7 2005

ISTANBUL (AA) – German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said on Wednesday
that Turkey’s accession negotiations with the EU would take a long
time and be difficult from time to time.

Schroeder, who is currently paying a working visit to Turkey,
has been awarded with ‘doctor honoris causa’ degree by Istanbul’s
Marmara University.

Speaking at the ceremony, Schroeder said that course of EU negotiations
would depend on improvement of Turkey’s reform process, adding that
Turkey’s accession negotiations with the EU would take a long time
and be difficult from time to time.

Stressing that they should not deviate from their common target
(Turkey’s EU membership), Schroeder said that Turkey had a momentous
potential.

Schroeder said that mentality of people should change in this
irreversible process, and he encouraged Turkey to maintain its reform
process with the same determination. He extended Germany’s support
to Turkey’s EU process.

Noting that Europe was a peaceful community formed by members who
succeeded in confronting their history for a common future, Schroeder
said that terrible events experienced by hundreds of thousands
of Armenians in the era of the Ottoman Empire were marked in many
countries a few days ago, and that the MPs at the German parliament
remarked that Germany was also responsible for those events.

Schroeder said that he appreciated Prime Minister Erdogan’s proposal
for investigation of the events by historians and expressed his hope
that Armenia would not reject the proposal.

Schroeder said that the German archives had already been open, adding
that German historians could also contribute to such an investigation.

Describing Turkey as an esteemed and reliable partner with Germany
and Europe, Schroeder said that there had been a fruitful cooperation
between the two countries in fight against international terrorism.

Referring to the issue of Iraq, Schroeder said that Turkey had been
pursuing a responsible policy, and that Turkey and Europe had the
potential for a close cooperation in modernization and democratization
of Near and Middle East.

Schroeder expressed his regret that the Cyprus issue could not be
resolved despite productive policy of Turkey.

Stressing that northern part of Cyprus who supported the plan of UN
Secretary General Kofi Annan should be treated equally, Schroeder
highlighted importance of EU’s financial assistance to Turkish
Cypriots.

He said that Germany would do its utmost to contribute to economic
development of northern Cyprus, adding that the UN should launch a
new initiative for re-unification of the island.