Mr. Bodo Hombach, the Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact of Southeastern Europe is going to pay a visit to Turkey on December 15, 1999 to have talks with the Turkish authorities.

During his visit, Mr. Hombach will be received by the President of Turkey, H.E. Süleyman Demirel and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. He will also meet with the representatives of the Turkish private sector in Istanbul on December 17, 1999.

The Stability Pact was adopted at the Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Cologne on June 10, 1999 and afterwards was finalized at the Summit in Sarajevo at the end of July 1999. During the visit of Mr. Hombach, the developments following the implementation stage of the Pact will be reviewed and Turkey's expectations and wishes will be brought to the attention of the Special Coordinator.

Turkey, as an active supporter of the Stability Pact from the beginning, believes that this Pact is an important and comprehensive step forward towards democratization, reconstruction and elimination of security concerns in the Balkans.

Furthermore, the visit of Mr. Bodo Hombach will provide an opportunity to inform the Special Coordinator of Turkey's planned contributions within the framework of the economic working table and also in other fields of the Pact. Turkey is going to undertake the co-chairmanship of the said working table on July 2000.