Efforts For Turkey's E.U. Bid Are Under Way, Cicek

ANKARA - Turkish Justice Minister and government spokesman Cemil Cicek has indicated that the government did not slow down its efforts regarding Turkey's EU accession process.
Following today's meeting of Council of Ministers, Cicek told reporters that the Ninth Development Plan covering the period between 2007 and 2013 was opened to signature in the Council of Ministers and it would be submitted to the parliament soon. Cicek noted that the date of the plan was important regarding Turkey's EU accession process, stating that the plan included new goals for all sectors.


-GOVERNMENT'S EU POLICY-

Noting that the public opinion considered that Turkish government has slowed down its efforts regarding the EU process, Cicek said, ''the government attaches great importance to its policies on the country's EU accession process. The government did not slow down its efforts.''

Cicek indicated that the Accession Partnership Council gathering scheduled for June 12th, 2006 was very important regarding the relations between Turkey and the EU, stressing that he considered that actual negotiations would probably start as of this date.

Stating that Turkish institutions and nongovernmental organizations made their preparations and arrangements during the screening process, Cicek said that a part of draft laws on EU acquis was being discussed in the parliament.


-RECENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS-

''There have been developments in the economy in the recent weeks. External developments caused a major part of monetary fluctuations in the country. The government will work to reach the targets that were earlier declared,'' he underlined.

Stating that budgetary discipline and structural reforms would continue, Cicek added, ''we are working to comply with requirements of free market economy.''