ZAGREB, July 3 (Hina) - The process of European integration will not be completed until the countries in the south-east of the continent take their position in European structures, Turkey's President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said in the
Croatian parliament on Thursday.
ZAGREB, July 3 (Hina) - The process of European integration will not
be completed until the countries in the south-east of the continent
take their position in European structures, Turkey's President
Ahmet Necdet Sezer said in the Croatian parliament on Thursday.
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The Turkish head of state recalled that his country had had special
relations with the European Union for 40 years. In 1996 Turkey and
the EU concluded a customs union and since 1999 it has been an
official candidate for EU membership. The start of negotiations on
the country's entry into the EU is expected in late 2004.
Saying that Turkey was closely following Croatia's efforts aimed at
its integration into the EU, the top Turkish official congratulated
Zagreb on the progress on that road.
"The process of Europe's integration will not be completed until
all Balkan countries take their positions in European structures,"
Sezer told the parliament.
He said that his country, as an important member of NATO, would
continue supporting Croatia's bids to join the alliance.
"Turkey maintains that all Balkan countries that meet conditions
for NATO membership, should become members," the Turkish president
said. "In this context we believe that the door which Bulgaria and
Romania have opened by becoming NATO members should remain open for
other countries in the region," he added.
The Turkish head of state voiced hope that the wish of almost all
countries in south-eastern Europe to join Euro-Atlantic
institutions would help erase negative connotations linked with
the term "Balkanism" and that the region would become a symbol of
peace, prosperity and stability.
The fight against organised crime and terrorism has become one of
the most important tasks and requires cooperation at all levels, he
said.
Apart from bilateral cooperation, Turkey and Croatia also
cooperate in multilateral processes on the path towards peace and
stability in the region, such as the process of cooperation of
south-eastern European countries, the Stability Pact and an
initiative for cooperation in south-eastern Europe.
Sezer described political relations between Zagreb and Ankara as
very satisfactory.
"Relations in the economy, trade and culture, should be raised to
the level of our political relations," he told MPs.
The annual trade between these two countries is about 50 million US
dollars and Croatia's export into Turkey accounts for some nine
million.
A bilateral free trade agreement took effect on 1 July this year.
After he gave a speech in the parliament, Sezer held talks with the
parliament's president, Zlatko Tomcic.
Upon his arrival in Zagreb on Thursday morning, the Turkish
president was received by his Croatian host, President Stjepan
Mesic. Later in the day the two presidents will attend a bilateral
business forum at the Croatian Chamber of Commerce.
The Turkish president will tour Dubrovnik on Friday.
(hina) ms