TURKEY HAS DEFINITELY NOT LOST INTEREST IN EU MEMBERSHIP, FM DAVUTOGLU

Anadolu Agency
June 16 2009
Turkey

BERLIN (A.A) – 16.06.2009 – Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
said Tuesday Turkey has definitely not lost interest in EU membership.

In a joint press conference with his German counterpart Frank Walter
Steinmeier in Berlin, Davutoglu said that "Turkey has not lost interest
in EU membership. One of the rare topics on which both the ruling
political party and the opposition agree on is the issue of Turkey’s
EU membership. Turkey’s EU membership is a topic always discussed by
the Turkish cabinet. We are working on many issues regarding Turkey’s
EU membership".

"We believe in Germany’s support of Turkey’s EU membership and thank
Steinmeier for his support," Davutoglu said.

"We do not think any other alternative for Turkey but EU
membership. Turkey is a crucial energy corridor," Davutoglu stressed.

Touching on the Cyprus issue, Davutoglu said that Turkey continues
to support the negotiations between the President of the Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Mehmet Ali Talat and the leader
of the Greek Cypriot administration Demetris Christofias.

"We hope that a lasting solution is established in Cyprus that
is based on peace and welfare. As you know, we had reached such a
solution in 2004. The Greek Cypriot side rejected such a solution
and assumed an attitude that has caused today’s problems. We hope
that the Greek Cypriot administration leaves such an attitude and
can jointly make Eastern Mediterranean a region of peace. We also
hope that the issue of Cyprus will be lifted from being an obstacle
(in Turkey’s EU process)," Davutoglu said.

"We discussed with Steinmeier the developments in Iran and the
Caucasus. We thank Germany for its efforts in bringing Azerbaijan
and Armenia closer to each other," Davutoglu said.

"There are common interests between Turkey and Germany and there are
not any disagreements between Turkey and Germany. Our countries have
deep rooted relations. Germany is Turkey’s number one trade partner. We
decided on establishing working groups so that the strategic dialogue
between Turkey and Germany gets developed," Davutoglu said.

"Bilateral relations should be placed on a stronger base and we
need a strong cultural base. Accordingly, we will speed up efforts
for the Turkish-German University to be established in Istanbul,"
Davutoglu noted.

"We will cooperate strongly with Germany so that the Turks living in
Germany get accustomed to the German society and reach the respectable
status that they deserve. The Turkish community living in Germany is
an important bridge between the two countries," Davutoglu also said.

Steinmeier, in his part, said that "we discussed with Davutoglu the
developments taking place in the Caucasus and Middle East. We also
discussed bilateral relations".

"We not only wish to develop political and economic relations
but cultural relations as well. Many Turkish artists are known in
Germany. We want to conclude efforts to establish the Turkish-German
University in Istanbul," Steinmeier said.

"We talked about the Upper Karabakh problem and Azerbaijan’s
relationship with Armenia with Davutoglu," Steinmeier said.

Touching on Turkey’s EU membership, Steinmeier said that the chapter on
"taxation" will soon be opened to negotiations.

"The EU negotiations are open ended. Yet the goal of the negotiations
is Turkey’s full membership in the EU," Steinmeier said.

Asked about what he thinks on the February decision of the European
Court of Justice (ECJ) in regard to visa procedures for Turkish
truck driver Mehmet Soysal, Steinmeier said that "as every European
country, we do respect the decision of the European Court of Justice. I
believe that the interior ministers of our two countries will soon
begin discussing on the (visa) issue".