The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

1995Prime Minister (1990-1997)

Mr Major’s Joint Doorstep Interview with the Prime Minister of Turkey – 22 November 1995

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Below is the text of Mr Major’s joint doorstep interview with the Prime Minister of Turkey, Mrs Tansu Ciller, held in London on Wednesday 22nd November 1995.

PRIME MINISTER:

Let me just say I am delighted to welcome the Prime Minister here to Downing Street this morning. We have had the opportunity of renewing a dialogue. We have had on several occasions in the past the welcome opportunity to discuss the relationship between my country and Turkey, which is excellent, and a number of areas of common interest – NATO and other related matters.

This morning, as usual, I think we had a very productive and worthwhile conversation. I reiterated our support for a proper Customs Union Agreement between the European Union and Turkey, and I very much hope that that is the decision that the parliament will take in Europe in a few days time. I think it is important for the European Union and I think would be a very welcome decision for Turkey as well.

We had the opportunity of ranging over a wide number of matters. I won’t bother you with them all at the moment, but I will ask the Prime Minister to say a word or two.

MRS CILLER:

Thank you, Prime Minister. It was a pleasure to visit you again and to see the Prime Minister. We have excellent relations between our two countries and it was good to find new ways of trying to promote trade and investment, and of course the Customs Union was a matter that was taken up. The way I see it is not just Turkey’s entrance into the Customs Union, I feel that Turkey can be a peace bridge between the two worlds which are standing side by side. Turkey Is dedicated to further democratisation and we believe in human rights and the values of our Western allies and we feel that we can share the peace bridge between the two worlds and we hope also that our economic closeness will bring further welfare to our nations. And we found that we can also work with England further on those economic matters and I am delighted to find out that the English people and the government is supporting Turkey’s entrance to the Customs Union.