Turkish Foreign Minister and Chief Negotiator for EU talks Ali Babacan said on Monday that his country would continue to pursue its European Union (EU) accession bid with determination, discernment and skillfulness.
Babacan made the remarks at a meeting on Turkey's EU bid at the EU Secretariat General in the Turkish capital of Ankara, saying
that the meeting was aimed to assess what have been done since the start of Turkey's EU accession talks and what can be done for the future.
Babacan said Turkey will launch a new program projected to improve life standards of people in the next seven years as well as to provide required adjustment for EU accession process and set a timetable for reforms.
"This program will also bring a new process that will follow the country's EU accession process with more detailed timetables. Our government will prepare and announce the program for the three- monthly period," he stated.
Babacan said that the Turkish government was resolute to carry out the reforms during the coming period, saying that the reform follow-up group would hold its 11th meeting on Tuesday.
Turkey began its membership talks with the 27-nation bloc in October 2005. The talks, however, have been partially suspended since December 2006, as Turkey refused to open its ports with Cyprus, an EU member.
The European Commission, EU's executive arm, is expected to release an annual report on Nov. 7 on Ankara's progress in EU accession talks.
Source: Xinhua
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