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 The upcoming final months of this year will be a crucial period both for
Turkey and for the European Union.
Following the EU Commission report that was released in October, the
decision regarding the starting of the accession negotiations with Turkey will
be taken in the December EU Summit. We believe that the decision will be
positive.
However, by then every single day should be used efficiently and the
mutually unwanted negative developments should be eliminated. In this context
the main responsibility lies with the proponents of the EU in Turkey as well
as the friends of Turkey in Europe.
On the way to the EU membership, Turkey has always received strong
support from the Italian government. Appreciating and being grateful for this,
we are also confident that Italy will continue to extend its support to Turkey.
Availing this opportunity I would like to indicate that throughout
history the essence of Turkish-Italian relations is the sentiments of mutual
friendship. These sentiments have formed such a powerful base that in spite of
some occasional crises and even of wars, the relations between the two
countries have resulted in an atmosphere in which friendship dominated. Mutual
understanding and friendship have always prevailed.
Turks and Italians have thus become distinguished as the two nations,
which have preferred and succeeded in deriving friendship instead of enmity
from history. Having these characteristics Turkey and Italy should be
considered as an example to many other countries, which have failed to do so.
I believe that, as in the past, in the near future as well, Turkey and
Italy will proceed on the way to the EU together.
Necati UTKAN
Ambassador
* H.E.
Ambassador Necati Utkan was the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in Rome
between 4 February 1999 to 27 November 2004.
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