Turks’ interest in EU solid, says FM
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 17, 2009 00:00
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 Davutoğlu 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, Davutoğlu 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," Davutoğlu said. "We are not considering any other alternative for Turkey but EU membership. Turkey is a crucial energy corridor."
Touching on the Cyprus issue, Davutoğlu 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," Davutoğlu 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," Davutoğlu 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," Davutoğlu 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," Davutoğlu 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," Davutoğlu said. Steinmeier said: "We discussed with Davutoğlu 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."
In a joint press conference with his German counterpart Frank Walter Steinmeier in Berlin, Davutoğlu 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," Davutoğlu said. "We are not considering any other alternative for Turkey but EU membership. Turkey is a crucial energy corridor."
Touching on the Cyprus issue, Davutoğlu 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," Davutoğlu 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," Davutoğlu 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," Davutoğlu 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," Davutoğlu 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," Davutoğlu said. Steinmeier said: "We discussed with Davutoğlu 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."