Foreign Minister Michel visits Ankara

On 2-3 July, deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Louis Michel traveled to Ankara as part of a tour of various capitals in his capacity as President-in-Office of the Council of Ministers of the European Union. He held talks with Turkey's Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and with Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, responsible for relations with the EU. He was also granted an audience by the President of the Republic of Turkey, Ahmet Sezer, and by Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit.

All these talks focused on relations between the European Union and Turkey. Mr. Michel highlighted the importance the EU attaches to Turkey's compliance with the political criteria laid down in Copenhagen as a prerequisite for the launch of accession negotiations. Alluding to the partnership for accession, he expressed his appreciation in the light of the Turkish government's adoption of the national programme for adopting the acquis communautaire, which he described as a step in the right direction. Nonetheless, he underlined the European Union's desire to see the legislative arsenal under this programme rapidly translated into hard-and-fast measures, particularly where human rights are concerned, this being an area subject to lingering concern. The regular report to be presented by the Commission in November will offer an opportunity to evaluate the progress made in implementing these measures. The Belgian Presidency voiced the hope of being able to adopt a unique proposal for a financial arrangement aimed at helping to fund Turkey in the run-up to its accession.

On the subject of Cyprus, Minister Michel called upon the Turkish authorities to make every effort to prompt the Turkish Cypriot party to return to the negotiating table for talks held under the aegis of the United Nations.

Finally, where the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) was concerned, the Belgian Presidency voiced its support for the efforts undertaken by British diplomats to convince the Turkish authorities not to oppose the conclusion of an arrangement between the EU and NATO.

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