Turkey's Chief Negotiator with the EU to address Forum next Thursday (2nd Nov)

 DATE:        THURSDAY 2nd NOVEMBER 2006

TIME:         11 A.M.

VENUE:     WESTIN HOTEL, COLLEGE GREEN, DUBLIN 2

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WELCOME TO ATTEND

Turkey’s Chief Negotiator with the European Union, Minister Ali Babacan, is to address the National Forum On Europe next Thursday 2^nd November in the Westin Hotel in Dublin at 11 a.m.   Mr Babacan will put the case for Turkey’s membership of the Union.  Members of the public are welcome to attend.

Mr Babacan’s visit to the Forum is very timely, coming as it does just days before the European Commission is due to publish a report on Turkey’s progress towards joining the EU. In the run up to the publication of the report, on 8^th November, intensive diplomatic activity has been taking place between Turkey and the EU over the conditions for continuing accession talks.

Following Mr Babacan’s keynote address, the debate will be opened up to the Forum membership which includes all the political parties and key civil society organisations.

The session will be chaired by the National Forum On Europe chairman, Senator Maurice Hayes.

The Forum was established by the government and the political parties in October 2001 as an arena for free debate on the European Union and Ireland’s role in it. In the last five years it has held nearly seventy plenary meetings, sixty regional meetings and conferences, programmes geared to engage women and young people, produced six Reports, publications in plain language and an interactive website.

Members of the public interested in attending next Thursday’s session are asked to email info@forumoneurope.ie or telephone 01-6705900.