ANKARA (AA) - The Council of Europe (COE) Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland has said, "l am very glad to hear EU decided to open new chapter in the negotiation with Turkey" in a joint press meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara regarding chapter 22 on "Regional Policy".
Jagland in the press conference with Davutoglu in Ankara said, "I came here to underline very good cooperation between Council of Europe and Turkey during recent years which has been important".
"Many of the reforms that have already been launched and and adopted came about because of the joint initiatives," Jagland added.
Jagland by giving an example about reforms in Turkey in recent years, noted that "for instance, reform package that was adopted in Turkish parliament few months ago which was about freedom of speech among other things".
For the bilateral relations, Jagland emphasized that "I can say Turkey and Council of Europe have been listening to each other. We have a very good dialogue."
"This dialogue will continue on the other matters and also advance the process that is going on in Turkey and Europe," said Jangland.
For the importance of bilateral relations, Jagland said that "I think that what we have to do together as Council of Europe and Turkey is important for dialogue and negotiation that is going on with EU".
Regarding newly opened chapter 22 on "Regional Policy", the COE secretary general said, "l am very glad to hear EU decided to open new chapter in the negotiation with Turkey" in the press meeting.
"The Council of Europe continues to play important role also in that respect," Jagland added.
Ahmet Davutoglu also said, in the meeting with Jagland "we emphasized both the future of European democracy and the background of the developments in Turkey with government approach to these developments".
"We never make concessions from freedoms and we never will. The reforms which was made in last 10 years are the indicators of it,"Davutoglu added.
After the demonstrations and criticism of Turkish democracy,Davutoglu stated "The right to use freedoms is limited within the framework of principles of the state of law as it is in all advanced democracies".
Davutoglu also noted that "we (Davutoglu and Jagland) dwelled on many European nations a little while ago".
