Romanian President Basescu: Turkey could always count on Romania’s support for the EU accession bid (May 29, 2008)

May 29, 2008 (TurkishPress.com)

BUCHAREST – Turkey’s parliament speaker, who currently holds talks in the Romanian capital of Bucharest, yesterday said that models proposing other solutions than full EU membership could not be on Turkey’s agenda.

Parliament speaker Koksal Toptan held talks with Romanian President Traian Basescu and Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu on Wednesday.

During the meeting at the Presidential Palace, Basescu said Turkey could always count on Romania’s support for its EU membership process.

Thanking for Romania’s support on Turkey’s path to EU, Toptan said the trade volume between the two countries, which was 7 billion USD currently, should be increased to 10 billion USD by 2010.

During his meeting with Tariceanu, Toptan said that Turkey and Romania had good relations.

Commenting on Turkey’s EU membership process as well, Toptan said some countries offered several other models to Turkey instead of full membership to EU. "Such models cannot be on our agenda," he said.

Tariceanu said that Turkish businessmen working in Romania contributed remarkably to the country’s economy and development.

Pointing to the significance of Nabucco Project, Tariceanu said both Turkey and Romania attached great importance to such project. "Turkey plays a key role on this issue," he said.

After meeting Romania`s top-level officials, Toptan met representatives of the Turkish community in Romania at a reception at the Turkish Embassy.



TurkishPress.com