Zaman, Turkey
Sept 14 2005

‘Prosecution of Pamuk Provokes EU’
By Selcuk Gultasli
Published: Wednesday, September 14, 2005
zaman.com

European Union Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said the
prosecution of Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk could be seen as
provocation.

Rehn briefed European parliamentarians about the Supplementary
Protocol with regard to Cyprus and the negotiations framework
document, in the European Parliament (EP) Foreign Relations
Committee, on September 13.

He noted the coincidence of the first court hearing in Pamuk’s trial
with the opening day of the six-monthly EU summit on December 16 that
implied a provocation.

Pamuk will be tried on the grounds of insulting the Turkish state
with his statement that in Turkey one million Armenians and 30,000
Kurds had been killed.

Rehn responded to questions by EP members and expressed his views on
many issues including the recognition of the Greek Cypriot
administration, the implementation of the Supplementary Protocol,
privileged partnership, removing the isolation imposed on Cypriot
Turks and the Pamuk case.

The reactions to Pamuk’s prosecution continue to grow.

Many European parliamentary members brought up the subject. Some
suggested Pamuk be invited to the EP and be consulted.

Rehn indicated that the prosecution of the renowned Turkish novelist
violated the European Human Rights Convention.

He expressed concerns about the Turkish Penal Code that recently came
to effect.

Drawing attention to the opening date of the trial, December 16, Rehn
noted the selection of that date could not be a coincidence but could
very well be a provocation.

Some cadres in the Turkish Justice still resisted the reforms, The
Commissioner indicated.

Often reminding that the recognition of the Greek Cypriot
administration was not among the conditions set on December 17, Rehn
drew attention to the Greek Cypriot rejection of the Annan plan.

Had the Greek Cypriots accepted the plan, today they would not be
discussing issues such as recognition and ports, he stressed,
highlighting Turkey’s efforts for a settlement.

Calling both parties to resume the UN process at once, Rehn indicated
the rejection of the plan harmed the Cypriot Turks the most.

Promises about direct trade and financial aid were not still
delivered to Cypriot Turks due to the disagreement in the Council,
Rehn added, and that the EC should give priority to solve this issue.

Talks with the EU term president the UK and former term president
Luxembourg for the approval of direct trade regulations in the EC
continue Rehn told. `While reminding Turkey about its
responsibilities, we should remember our own responsibilities as
well.’

Every member country has 71 veto voting rights

Turkey’s negotiations would be subjected to very strict rules and
every country has 35 rights both in the opening and the closing of
each chapter, and another voting session is needed to finalize the
negotiations when all negotiating and all chapters are finished.
Every country will have 71 rights to veto during Turkey’s
negotiations.

Rehn expressed displeasure about the Turkish declaration on the
non-recognition of Greek Cyprus while signing the supplementary
protocol of the Customs Union Agreement and cited the rejection of
the Annan Plan as grounds for this unfortunate case.

The EU Commissioner reiterated that Turkey would undertake
negotiations with all the 25 countries as he wanted Turkey to
implement the supplementary protocol fully and open its ports to all
Cypriot Greek ships. If Turkey does not open its ports, the chapters
related to the customs union and the domestic market would not be
open to negotiations, he added, `Under these conditions, it will not
be possible to make any progress in the negotiations.’

`Do not change the negotiations framework’

Rehn warned EU countries not to change the negotiations framework.
The EU Commissioner emphasized that the negotiations framework, which
was issued late in June took very fragile balances into
consideration. `If the document is changed remarkably, the very
fragile balance that was reached after long negotiations last
December will be endangered.’