Meeting between the Taoiseach and Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leader of Turkish AK (Justice and Development) party
The Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern T.D., this morning (21 November 2002) welcomed Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leader of the Turkish AK (Justice and Development) party, to Dublin. Mr. Erdogan is touring European capitals with a view to seeking support for the commencement of accession negotiations by Turkey to join the European Union. Mr. Erdogan was accompanied by the Turkish Foreign Minister, Mr.Yaasar Yakis.
The Taoiseach congratulated Mr. Erdogan on the results achieved by his AK party in the Turkish parliamentary elections on 3 November. He wished the new Government every success in office.
The Taoiseach said that Ireland accepted the conclusions of the Helsinki European Council (1999) which stated that Turkey is a candidate country destined to join the EU on the basis of the same criteria which applied to all other candidate countries. He said that the next few weeks leading up to the European Council in Copenhagen in December will be crucial in determining the future relations between the EU and Turkey. The Taoiseach assured Mr. Erdogan that Ireland will be as helpful as possible in terms of Turkeys EU candidature.
On Cyprus, the Taoiseach said that Ireland welcomed the recent UN proposals and hoped they will be carefully considered by both Cypriot communities and by Greece and Turkey. He said that Ireland had a particular interest in Cyprus as we had contributed from the outset to the UN peace-keeping operations on the island.
The Taoiseach noted that trade between Ireland and Turkey had grown significantly over the past decade increasing almost eight-fold since 1990. He also noted that several Turkish companies were successfully operating in Ireland, particularly in the construction sector.
Mr. Erdogan hoped that the Taoiseach would visit Turkey in the New Year.
ENDS
21 November 2002