ANKARA: Erdogan: Turkey will be different on Oct. 3

Turkish Press
June 22 2005

Press Review

TURKIYE

ERDOGAN: `TURKEY WILL BE DIFFERENT ON OCT. 3′

Addressing the upcoming Turkey’s start of European Union accession
talks, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that Turkey
would be different on Oct. 3. Stressing that Ankara was closely
following developments in the EU, Erdogan said that Turkey should
begin its accession talks on Oct. 3 as scheduled. Speaking at his
Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) Central Executive Board
meeting, Erdogan spoke about recent developments. Commenting on the
German Parliament’s approval of an Armenian resolution last week,
Erdogan said that the decision had surprised him. He stated that his
recent visit to the US had been fruitful and had given him the
opportunity to hold talks with officials and representatives of
various groups. We tried to convince US President George W. Bush that
Syria should be won over, said Erdogan, adding that he was pleased
that Bush’s policy on the matter had seemed to soften. /Turkiye/