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ANKARA: Been Maintaining Preparatory Efforts For EU Membership Proc.

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  • ANKARA: Been Maintaining Preparatory Efforts For EU Membership Proc.

    Anadolu Agency, Turkey
    Jan 29 2005

    Erdogan: We Have Been Maintaining Our Preparatory Efforts For Our
    E.U. Membership Process

    Anadolu Agency: 1/29/2005
    DAVOS (AA) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on
    Friday, ''we have been maintaining our preparatory efforts for our EU
    membership process. Also, efforts have been under way to form the
    legal infrastructure for the Ankara Agreement. We are in favor of
    solution.''
    Prime Minister Erdogan, who is currently in Davos town of
    Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum, held a news
    conference.
    Upon a question about so-called Armenian genocide, Prime
    Minister Erdogan said, ''our official position is clear. According to
    our point of view, not politicians but historians should deal with
    such issues. As the Republic of Turkey, we have opened air corridor
    with Armenia, and also initiated trade. There are 30 thousand
    citizens of Armenian origin in Turkey. They do not have such
    problems.''

    -TURKEY-ISRAEL RELATIONS-
    Upon a question about Turkey-Israel relations, Prime Minister
    Erdogan said, ''Turkey is in favor of peace in the Middle East.
    Turkey has good relations both with Israel and Palestine. But we are
    against all kinds of acts of terrorism. We want two separate states
    in the Middle East. We have launched a series of initiatives to this
    end following the elections in Palestine. Foreign Minister & Deputy
    Prime Minister Abdullah Gul paid visits to Israel and Palestine.''
    ''Our trade volume with Israel is about 2.5 billion U.S.
    dollars. I will visit Israel and Palestine in the coming months. We
    have always advocate a peaceful atmosphere. Both Israel and Palestine
    should fulfil their responsibilities to this end,'' he said.

    -EU-
    Replying to a question about Turkey's EU membership process,
    Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''we have been maintaining our
    preparatory efforts for our EU membership process. Also, efforts have
    been under way to form the legal infrastructure for the Ankara
    Agreement. We do not want any delay. We are in favor of solution.''

    -ELECTIONS IN IRAQ-
    Upon a question about upcoming elections in Iraq, Prime Minister
    Erdogan said, ''the elections will constitute a transition into
    democracy. The new government should define the next process
    carefully. It will have a heavy responsibility since it will prepare
    a new constitution. This constitution should not allow sovereignty of
    ethnic elements over each other. It should preserve Iraq's
    territorial integrity.''

    -UKRAINE'S EU MEMBERSHIP-
    Upon a question about Ukraine's EU membership, Prime Minister
    Erdogan said, ''as you know, the EU's enlargement process has been
    continuing. We support Ukraine's EU membership as long as it is in
    line with rules.''
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