GUL: “THE EU REPORT PROPOSING THE START OF ANKARA’S ACCESSION TALKS IS PARLIAMENT’S SUCCESS”
Aksam, Turkey
Nov 10 2004
Addressing Parliament’s Planning and Budget Commission yesterday,
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul hailed last month’s historic European
Commission progress report, which proposed beginning Ankara’s
European Union accession talks, as Parliament’s success. “As a
result of Parliament’s sterling performance, the commission proposed
beginning our accession talks,” said Gul, adding that efforts were
continuing to change unfavorable elements of the report. Touching
on the Cyprus issue, Gul stated that Turkey recognizing the Greek
Cypriot administration was out of the question. Also touching on
the Armenian issue, Gul said that Ankara favored good relations
with all countries, but that Armenia was currently occupying 20% of
Azerbaijan’s territory. Later, Gul said that the US’ Greater Middle
Eastern Initiative (GME) was a sensitive issue. He conceded that the
project might have secret aims, but added that if Turkey doesn’t take
part, then it could have unwanted results for Ankara. /Aksam/