Zaman, Turkey
April 29 2005

Political News Make Public Disinclined to EU
By Bahtiyar Kucuk
Published: Friday 29, 2005
zaman.com

Turkish General Secretary for the European Union (EU) Ambassador
Murat Sungar has directed allegations to the media making the public
disinclined towards the EU by keeping “political” issues like Cyprus
and Armenia constantly on the agenda.

Calling attention to the first issues that come to mind are those of
political issues such as the Cypriot and Armenian conflicts,
minorities and Heybeliada Seminary, Sungar said: “Before all else,
Turkish society should be told about the economic and financial aid
the EU will provide Turkey. This should not be like ignoring the
entire forest by sticking in a few trees.” Speaking at the
“International Jean Monnet Conference” organized with the
collaboration of the Turkish Quality Association and the Foreign
Politics Forum, Sungar called attention to the economic and financial
advantages that will be gained during the negotiation process.
Ambassador complained: “Unfortunately, the economic issues are far
from the topics being discussion about us and rural development, the
removal of interregional differences; economic and social accords
fall well behind the political issues.”