Congressional Record: June 15, 2006 (House)]
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TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, next week the European Union will begin
conducting membership negotiations with Turkey. As this process begins,
it is important that the EU not allow Turkey to take any shortcuts. I
am confident the European Union will insist Turkey follow all the
proper steps and make the substantial changes necessary in many areas
before the nation could ever be accepted.
To date, I do not believe Turkey has made substantial and meaningful
progress in many of the areas that are of concern to members of
the European Union. Despite making commitments for its membership
negotiations, Turkey’s lack of progress in adhering to essential
democratic principles is of great concern. It continues to be in
breach of the pace and standards set forth under initial agreements
with the EU. In fact, the EU has prepared a report criticizing Turkey’s
reform process.
During next week’s meetings, the European Union must demand answers
from the Turkish government as to why the nation is not meeting
benchmarks it agreed to in order to receive EU consideration. The EU
must also begin to seriously explore Turkey’s continued disregard
for improving fundamental freedoms within its boundaries, freedoms
that are commonplace throughout the European Union.
There is no question Turkey is going to be forced and should be forced
to make dramatic improvements in these areas before it can ever be
considered for EU membership. The EU must also consider Turkey’s
relations with its neighbors. I remain a vocal critic of Turkey’s
treatment of both Armenia and Cyprus, and believe that these issues
must also be addressed during next week’s discussions.
Mr. Speaker, I am deeply concerned about Turkey’s lack of progress in
the diplomatic recognition of Armenia, the removal of its blockade
against Armenia, and ending its official policy of denial of the
Armenian genocide by coming to terms with it, an irrefutable historical
fact affirmed by an increasing number of EU member states and European
institutions.
Turkey’s refusal to acknowledge the systematic killing of 1.5 million
Armenians has no limits. Just last month, Turkey pulled out of a NATO
exercise because the Canadian Prime Minister used the term "genocide"
in reference to the massacre. Prior to that, the Turkish Ambassador to
France was temporarily removed from the country as an act of protest
against a French law making it illegal to deny the Armenian genocide.
This type of behavior goes on and on. Five journalists who criticized
a court’s decision to cancel a conference on the genocide were
arrested. A leading Turkish novelist, Orhan Pamuk, was also arrested
and charged with insulting Turkey’s identity for referring to the
Armenian genocide. Clearly, Turkey’s protection of the fundamental
freedoms of a democracy is simply inadequate.
Now, meanwhile, Turkey continues to illegally occupy the northern
third of Cyprus. In 2001, the European Court of Human Rights rebuked
the Turkish government when the court overwhelmingly found Turkey
guilty of massive human rights violations in a scathing 146-page
decision. The court concluded Turkey has not done enough to investigate
the whereabouts of Greek-Cypriot missing persons who disappeared
during life-threatening situations after the occupation.
The findings of the European Court of Human Rights should be taken
very seriously by the EU, and the Turkish government should be forced
to respond to these devastating charges before even being considered
for membership.
Turkey must also agree to once again come to the table and negotiate
in good faith with Cyprus. Turkey simply cannot be admitted to the
European Union if Cyprus remains divided and Turkish troops are
still there.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in adding their support
to a letter I am circulating with my colleague, Carolyn Maloney of
New York. We will soon send a letter to Jose Manuel Barroso, President
of the European Commission, to express many of these same concerns. I
also strongly urge President Bush to personally raise these concerns
with President Barroso.
It is imperative Turkey’s progress is measured on the basis of its
complete accomplishment of all necessary criteria set forth by the
European Union.