Zaman, Turkey
July 13 2005

Babacan Passes the EP’s Exam
By Zaman
Published: Wednesday July 13, 2005
zaman.com

Turkey’s chief European Union (EU) negotiator State Minister Ali
Babacan received a passing grade from the European Parliament (EP)
members whom he addressed for the first time.

Babacan answered questions from EP members, among who were strong
critics of Turkey’s membership to the Union. He told EP members that
Turkey would not accept any offer falling short of full membership,
demanding extra attention to avoid damaging the Turkish people.
Questions by EP members were related to various subjects, ranging
from Heybeliada Seminary and the Armenian issue to South Eastern
Anatolia. Babacan’s performance before the EP Foreign Affairs
Committee was rated as somewhere between average and good. Dutch EP
member and the Parliament’s Turkey Rapporteur Camiel Eurlings told
Zaman that Babacan performed well and that he liked his relaxed and
unflappable stance.