Brussels / Ankara, 04/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - Following the lightning visit by Guy Verhofstadt, last week, the Belgian Minister for European Affairs, Annemie Neyts also raised with the Turkish Government, in Ankara on Tuesday, relations between the EU and Turkey and the solution to the problem raised by Turkey over the placing of NATO assets for future EU-led conflict prevention and management operations. Ms. Neyts, who met Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem , declared, according to AFP, that the announcement of the waiving of the Turkish veto to an EU/NATO agreement on the subject was an "important step", and that the Belgian Presidency was considering, on the occasion of the European Council of Laeken, "raising Turkey's candidacy (for EU membership) to a higher level"
Meanwhile Mr. Yilmaz set off for Brussels, where on Wednesday he is to meet European Commissioner Gunter Verhaegen, and EU capitals are studying the compromise on ESDP secured with Turkey following mediation by the United States and Britain (in particular, the Director General of the Foreign Office, Peter Ricketts). The question could be already raised at the EU/NATO ministerial meeting to be held in Brussels on Thursday at 18.00 hrs., in the buildings of the EU Council, but the compromise (which should, in particular, allow Ankara to have its word on operations in areas affecting its security interests) should be ratified by the Fifteen, if possible at the General Affairs Council of 10 December. NATO sources, moreover, say that once the "Turkish problem" is settled, they could be confronted with a "French problem" on the command structure and the role of D-SACEUR (deputy Allied Commander - a German or British officer), who should be the "strategic co-ordinator" for EU-led operations with NATO assets.