TURKEY TO CONTINUE STRIVING FOR FULL EU MEMBERSHIP – MINISTER

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Dec 21 2006

Ankara, 21 December: "The target of negotiations (between Turkey and
the EU) is full membership," said Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gul, reaffirming that Turkey will never take a backward step from
this aspiration.

Taking the floor at the parliamentary session at which the new budget
of the Turkish Foreign Ministry was discussed, Gul responded to the
criticisms about Turkey’s relations with the EU and noted, "If the
EU really wants to become an actor in the world, it should be aware
of the contributions Turkey will make."

Gul said these decisions indicate EU’s lack of vision when commenting
on the decision of the union to suspend negotiations with Turkey on
eight chapters.

"We will become a member sooner or later. What is important is that
Turkey should be ready when this day comes," he emphasized.

Gul said, "As the government, we know that the EU is using Cyprus
and Customs Union as pretexts", and noted that Turkey has not made
any concessions of Cyprus.

Fight against terrorism

On the other hand, Gul stated that Turkey attaches importance
to territorial integrity and political unity of Iraq, and drew
attention that deterioration of Iraq’s territorial integrity is an
issue concerning not only Iraq but also the region and the world.

Gul stressed that Turkey is exerting great efforts to eliminate the
terrorist organization PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party] in north of Iraq.

"We have not handled fight against terrorism to any other country. We
have the strength to fight till the end and we will do so. If those
countries are our allies, they have to help us. We are doing our best
to prevent a Sunni-Shi’i division," he pointed out.

Armenian allegations

Noting that the Foreign Ministry is working on the Armenian issue
carefully, Gul said, "We will try everything, including judicial and
arbitration methods. We will share all these views with political
parties soon."