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Turkey not to participate in EU Eastern Partnership program: co-chairman of Turkey-EU joint parliamentary commission

Politics Materials 24 February 2009 22:37 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 24 / Trend B. Hasanov /

The invitation of Turkey to the EU's Eastern Partnership voiced by Karel Schwarzenberg Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic presiding in the EU was protested in Ankara.

"We categorically can not participate in the Eastern Partnership program," Yashar Yakish, co-chairman of Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission, ex-foreign minister of Turkey, told Trend in a telephone conversation from Ankara on Feb. 24.

Karel Schwarzenberg, Foreign Minister of  the Czech Republic presiding in the EU, said that Turkey will be invited to the EU Eastern Partnership program, Hurriyet Turkish newspaper reported. The Eastern Partnership program aims to strengthen relations between six post Soviet states, including Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Byelorussia and the EU. The cooperation with the countries participating in the program will be implemented regarding creation of free trade zones and achievement of strategic agreements, provided that they will not be EU full-right members.

All official organizations of the EU state that the talks with Turkey are being held for full-right membership, co-chairman of Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission said.

"The invitation of Turkey to the Eastern Partnership program contradicts the EU decisions made up to now.

So, we do not accept it categorically, Yakish said. Turkey considers it unnecessary to express attitude towards the issue at the official level, since the EU officials do not voice official position of the organization, co-chairman said.

"The EU decisions are made in its official organizations and there were no changes towards Turkey from the official organizations up to now," Yakish said.

Turkey established a separate ministry in January 2009, which deals with talks with the EU to continue the process more fruitfully.

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