Anatolian Times, Turkey
Sept 30 2005

Solana: EU Should Keep Its Promises To Turkey

BRUSSELS – EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security
Policy Javier Solana said on Friday that EU should keep its promises
to Turkey.
Giving an exclusive interview to RTL Radio channel of Belgium and
Luxembourg, Solana said that EU had economic relations with Turkey
for a long time and EU had also undertaken responsibilities towards
Turkey in 1999.

The date of accession talks for full membership was determined as
Oct. 3rd, 2005, Solana said, adding that he hoped the talks would
start at that date.

“We gave promises, and our obligations are very clear, we should
fulfil them,“ said Solana.

“I don`t know when and how will the negotiations will start,
certainly the accession of one country into the EU will come true
unanimously. I don`t think that it is time to bring onto agenda the
Armenian genocide issue. Turkey will recognize `Cyprus Republic`
before being a full member,“ commented Solana.