DETERMINATION MESSAGE ON EU
Prime Minister Erdogan visited Sweden on the 1-3rd April 2008, as an official guest of Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt. Prime Minister was accompanied by his spouse Mrs. Erdogan, State Minister Mr. Sait Yazicioglu, Minister of Industry and Trade Mr. Zafer Caglayan, Minister of Interior Mr. Besir Atalay, Sweden Turkey Inter-parliamentary Friendship Group Chairman Mr. Ozkan Ozkul and Ankara MP Haluk Ozdalga and AK Party Vice Chairman in charge of Foreign Affairs Mr. Egemen Bagis.
Prime Minister Erdogan met King Gustaf XVI., Prime Minister Reinfeldt, President of the Assembly Per Westerberg and members of the Parliament. During his visit, Prime Minister Erdogan gave messages on turkey's determination on EU membership; he also gave some statements about Turkey's role in the region and its relations with the neighboring countries.
On the second day of his visit, Prime Minister Erdogan met Swedish and Turkish businessmen, and held a speech at Swedish Turkish Business Forum. He talked about the bilateral political, economical and political relations and the situation of Turks living in Sweden. After that Prime Minister Erdogan attended a meeting that was organized by the Swedish Turkish Workers Association at Stockholm Municipality Palace and held a speech to the Turkish community.
Mr. Egemen Bagis, AK Party Vice Chairman in charge of Foreign Affairs, made a statement about the visit and he said as with every country, AK Party Government wants to improve Turkey's relations with Sweden, who is supporting the EU membership of Turkey. Bagis said "Turkey is not a country that is creeps into its own skin anymore; the whole world is watching closely the events in our country. The invitation of Swedish Prime Minister to our Prime Minister Mr. Erdogan indicates this too."