EU membership discussed during visit of President of Turkey

Turkey’s EU membership was discussed at the meeting between President of the Republic Tarja Halonen and President of Turkey Abdullah Gül on Wednesday, 8 October 2008 at the Presidential Palace. “I am very pleased about the positive steps taken in Turkey on democracy and good governance. I hope that there will be more reforms as they also speed up the Turkish accession to the EU”, President Halonen said at a joint press conference in the Hall of Mirrors. The press conference of the visit is also available as a video recording on the Internet. President Gül thanked Finland for its support for Turkey and assured that the EU membership process also involves thorough reforms. According to him, Finland is important as Turkey was granted the EU candidate country status in Helsinki during Finland’s EU Presidency in 1999.

The Presidents with spouses at the balcony of the Presidential Palace on Wednesday, 8 October 2008. Copyright © Office of the President of the Republic of Finland

President Halonen compared EU membership to getting married. The acceptance of Turkey’s candidacy in Helsinki was “kind of engagement, but now we have to continue working actively for the wedding. When one chooses a daughter, one also needs to accept uncles and brothers”, President Halonen said. “I find it absolutely important that, at the same time, we will be able to solve the situation in Cyprus, but that is a matter for the UN”.

Valuable Co-operation

The Presidents also discussed regional issues and stability of the Caucasus. “We value the co-operation with Turkey on the Caucasus. We are both experienced peacekeepers both in Kosovo and Afghanistan”, President Halonen said. President Gül emphasized that Turkey values Finland’s persistent efforts for peace and security.

The relations between Finland and Turkey are excellent. The trade between the two countries is growing and co-operation covers a number of fields. “We have two different societies and we aim to find common values, but also understand each other’s differences”, President Halonen summarised at the press conference.

On Wednesday, President Gül also met Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen and visited the Parliament. On Thursday, 9 October, President Gül will lay a wreath at the Hietaniemi cemetery and travel to Jyväskylä, where the programme includes visits to the University of Jyväskylä and the Alvar Aalto Museum as well as a meeting with President Martti Ahtisaari. President Gül will also give Martti Ahtisaari lecture at the University of Jyväskylä.

Speech by President Halonen at a banquet given in honour of President of the Republic of Turkey

Speech by President Halonen at the Turkish-Finnish Business Forum

Webcast of the press conference