Turkish PM says Turkey-Spain summit will be only exception

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday, "Spain, earlier, decided not to hold any bilateral summit during its presidency of the European Union because of busy agenda. Turkey-Spain summit will be the only exception. The summit is a corroboration of our perfect relations with Spain."

Prime Minister Erdogan told a news conference at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport prior to his departure for Spain, "our relations with Spain have gained further importance since 2004. The initiative of the Alliance of Civilizations co-chaired by Turkey and Spain played a significant role in this process."

"Earlier, we agreed to hold intergovernmental summits every year. Although Spain decided not to hold any bilateral summit during its presidency of the European Union because of intense agenda, Turkey-Spain summit will be the only exception. The summit is a corroboration of our perfect relations with Spain," he said.

"During the visit, I will attend a meeting to be hosted by the Nueva Economia Forum and deliver a speech about Turkey's European Union membership process. Later, I will meet with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero with all aspects of Turkey-Spain relations high on our agenda. We will also have the chance to exchange views over recent developments in the world and in our region and Turkey's negotiation process with the European Union," he said.

Prime Minister Erdogan added, "later, I will proceed to Seville to receive the 'Seville NODO Prize for Intercultural Dialogue'. I am happy to receive the prize."

Spain, which strongly supports Turkey's EU bid, has assumed the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union at the beginning of 2010.

/World Bulletin/