AKP releases booklet to tout its EU efforts

The New Anatolian, Turkey
July 27 2006

The ruling party, which pledged to make Turkey a member of the European
Union when it assumed power in 2002, yesterday published a booklet in a
move to further inform the public about the body and tout EU accession.

The booklet — "The EU in 100 questions" — was prepared by the AK
Party’s Foreign Relations Department and reportedly aims to introduce
Turkey’s EU accession process to the public.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, emphasizing a rising need for
a unification of countries to ensure peace, touted his party in the
booklet’s preface for its sincere efforts to become a member state.

Erdogan also reaffirmed that Turkey has always aspired to full
membership of the EU.

In the booklet, answering 100 questions about the foundation of the
EU, its history and administration, Turkey’s "red lines" are listed
in broad detail.

The booklet underlined that Turkey can’t recognize the Greek Cypriot
administration as the "Republic of Cyprus" and added that such
political recognition will only be possible after a comprehensive
and durable settlement to the problems on the divided island.

It also ruled out the possibility of the so-called Armenian genocide
claims becoming a pre-condition in the negotiations process.

Opening Turkey’s territorial integrity for discussion is also a no go
area, the booklet stressed. It also stated that any attempt to force
the government to accept "privileged partnership" status instead of
full membership would be unacceptable.

The booklet underscored how difficult the negotiations process can
be, saying that agriculture and the environment will be the two most
difficult topics for Turkey.