TURKS’ INTEREST IN EU SOLID, SAYS FM
Hurriyet
June 17 2009
Turkey
ISTANBUL – Turkey’s interminable insistence on European Union
membership is highlighted during a press conference held in Ankara
between Turkish and German foreign ministers. In fact, it is one
of the rare topics on which the ruling political party and the
opposition agree
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said Turkey definitely
has not lost interest in EU membership.
In a joint press conference with his German counterpart Frank Walter
Steinmeier in Berlin, Davutoglu said: "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 for Turkey’s EU membership and thank
Steinmeier for his support," Davutoglu said. "We are not considering
any other alternative for Turkey but EU membership. Turkey is a
crucial energy corridor."
Touching on the Cyprus issue, Davutoglu said Turkey continues to
support negotiations between the Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali
Talat and the leader of the Greek Cypriot administration, Demetris
Christofias.
"We hope that a lasting solution is established in Cyprus 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," Davutoglu said. "We hope
that the Greek Cypriot administration leaves such an attitude and can
jointly make the eastern Mediterranean a region of peace. We also hope
that the issue of Cyprus will be eliminated from being an obstacle
[in Turkey’s EU process]."
"We discussed with Steinmeier the developments in Iran and the
Caucasus," Davutoglu said. "We thank Germany for its efforts in
bringing Azerbaijan and Armenia closer to each other."
"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 No. 1 trade partner. We
decided on establishing working groups to develop the strategic
dialogue between Turkey and Germany," 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 a Turkish-German university to be established in Istanbul,"
Davutoglu noted.
Respectable status
"We will cooperate strongly with Germany so that the Turks living
in Germany integrate into 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 said. Steinmeier
said: "We discussed with Davutoglu the developments taking place in the
Caucasus and Middle East. We also discussed bilateral relations. Many
Turkish artists are known in Germany. We want to conclude efforts
to establish the Turkish-German university in Istanbul," Steinmeier
said. Touching on Turkey’s EU membership, Steinmeier said the chapter
on taxation would 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 what he thinks about
the European Court of Justice’s ruling in February in regard to visa
procedures for Turkish truck driver Mehmet Soysal, he said: "As every
European country, we do respect the decision of the European Court
of Justice. I believe interior ministers of our two countries will
soon begin discussing the [visa] issue."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
