SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE REACTS ON EU DECISION TO START NEGOTIATIONS WITH TURKEY

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| 21:38:41 | 03-10-2005 | Politics |

Strasbourg, 03.10.2005 – “Turkey is a part of Europe”, said Terry
Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, reacting to the
news of a last-minute compromise between the EU 25 members on the
opening of membership negotiations with Turkey.

“Details of the proposal are not yet known, but while we are waiting
for Turkey’s response, I wish to stress again the importance of the
outcome of these negotiations, not only for Turkey and the EU but
for Europe as a whole and indeed world.

The issue has never been whether Turkey is a part of Europe – the
Council of Europe answered this question 65 years ago when Turkey
joined our organization. The question has been whether the EU would
rise to the occasion and understand the importance of the fact that
a country with a big and predominantly Islamic population is ready
and willing to embrace the values of democracy, human rights and the
rules of law.

If the negotiations with the EU indeed start – and I wholeheartedly
hope so – this will only be the beginning of a long process. Turkey
deserves a fair deal and the pace of the negotiations must be set
by its achievements in implementing reforms, not by polls elsewhere
in Europe. Public opinion is very important, but it is not immune
to prejudice. With so much at stake, political leaders should lead,
and not just follow”, he concluded