TURKISH FM THANKS AUSTRIA FOR CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR EU MEMBERSHIP BID

Anatolia News Agency
April 21 2008
Turkey

["TURKEY’S EU PROCESS IS A WIN-WIN PROJECT FOR BOTH PARTIES, FM" –
AA headline]

ANKARA (A.A) -21.04.2008 -Turkey’s FM said on Monday the country’s
EU process was a win-win procedure for both parties.

Speaking at opening of Turkish-Austrian Neighbourhood Workshop in State
Guesthouse in Ankara, Turkish FM Ali Babacan said Turkey implemented
remarkable political reforms and made important steps in its EU bid.

Babacan thanked Austria for its support to Turkey’s EU aspiration and
said both countries pursued a stable foreign policy in a geography
full of challenges and opportunities.

Turkey has been carefully monitoring developments in Bosnia-Hercegovina
and a partnership agreement that was expected to be signed by EU and
Bosnia-Hercegovina was of great importance, Babacan said.

Turkey highly value Kosovo and there were sound ties between the two
countries, he said. "Preserving peace and stability in Balkans is a
priority for Turkey," Babacan indicated.

The Palestine issue was the main problem in the Middle East and
fragmentation among Palestinians should be eliminated for the sake
of peace process, Babacan said.

"Turkey is eager to normalize its relations with Armenia. It keeps
open dialogue channels with the new Armenian government," he also said.

[At 1152 gmt on 21 April, Anatolia in English adds: "ANKARA (A.A)
-Austria would keep supporting Turkey’s EU bid, Austria’s foreign
minister said on Monday.

"Speaking at opening of Turkish-Austrian Neighbourhood Workshop
at State Guesthouse in Ankara, Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik of
Austria said Turkey passed through a very impressive reform process
and those reforms were of great importance in regard to development
of Turkish economy and political system.

"Austrian businessmen made important investments in Balkans, she said.

"Plassnik said her country attached great importance to Black Sea
Economic Cooperation (BSEC), and Black Sea region had a remarkable
potential in terms of economic growth.

"Turkey conducted significant activities in Central Asia and Austria
wanted to benefit from Turkey’s knowledge and experiences with Central
Asia which had some economic and social problems.

"In regard to the Cyprus issue, Plassnik said they hoped there would be
a progress in this issue and they exerted great efforts to contribute
to this matter."]