A letter by the Prime Minister of Finland, H.E. Paavo Liponen, dated December 6 1999, addressed to the Turkish Prime Minister, H.E. Bülent Ecevit has reached Ankara today. The letter provides information on the summit meeting to be held in Helsinki on 10-11 December 1999. Further on, the Turkish Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs are invited to a luncheon on 11 December, together with their counterparts from all the applicant countries, the EU leaders participating at the Summit, the President of the EU Commission and the High Representative of the CFSP, Mr. Solana. The purpose of this invitation is described as "offering an opportunity to hear at first hand the outcome of discussions".

This letter is an expression of Finland's remarkable efforts in order to develop Turkey-EU relations. It is therefore welcomed with gratitude. However, this invitation is extended to us under our current status, with the title of an applicant state and not as a candidate state. Noteworthy is the fact that Turkey is the only applicant country which has not received the candidate status. The letter, naturally, does not contain any clue on the possible outcome of the Helsinki Summit concerning Turkey's status.

In fact, this invitation was previously conveyed to us verbally. As we made it clear at the time, our Prime Minister's participation in such an invitation would be more appropriate only after our candidacy would have become officially ascertained, subsequently communicated to us and evaluated by our Government. The aim of our approach, which we hope will be well understood, is to place Turkey-EU relations in a mutually satisfying and reliable framework.