Anatolian Times, Turkey
May 9 2006

Lagendijk: Some Circles In The E.U. Expect Turkey To Give Up Its E.U.
Membership

ANKARA – ”There are some circles in the European Union (EU) who
expect Turkey to give up its EU candidacy and membership. Turkey
should not fall into this trap,” said Joost Lagendijk, Co-Chairman
of Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission (KPK), today.
KPK members, who attended Turkey-EU KPK 56th term meetings in Ankara
in the past two days, met students in a conference held at Bilkent
University.

Lagendijk pointed out that there are groups in Turkey that believe
that the EU is against expansion and Turkey’s membership. ”Such a
scenario does not represent the reality,” told Lagendijk.

”The referendums held in France and the Netherlands in which the
people of both countries rejected the EU Constitution do not imply
that the referendums are signs against Turkey’s EU membership,”
noted Lagendijk.

Joost Lagendijk stressed that the 25 member EU’s current system does
not work properly. ”The EU definitely needs a new constitution and
regulations.”

Lagendijk underlined that, if the EU wants to be a global player, it
has to admit Turkey in as a full member.

Asked by a student if he would be supported by Lagendijk on the topic
of freedom of expression in France, Lagendijk stated that the student
should express his thoughts on the so-called Armenian genocide
freely. ”At the same time, I believe that groups requesting
discussions on the so-called Armenian genocide should receive fair
treatment in Turkey,” commented Lagendijk.

Meanwhile, Onur Oymen, Turkey-EU KPK Vice-Chairman, said that those
circles who claim that Turkey is not geographically in Europe are
actually stating so for their political interests. ”Turkey belongs
in Europe,” told Oymen. ”Nevertheless, there is no strong
leadership in the EU that supports Turkish membership,” added Oymen.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress