EP REGRETS SLOWDOWN OF REFORM PROCESS IN TURKEY

Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
Aug 5 2006

The European Parliament’s (EP) Foreign Affairs Committee has expressed
regret that the reform process in Turkey has slowed down, and called
on Turkey "to recognize the Armenian genocide as a pre-condition"
for EU membership.

In a report adopted Monday evening in Strasbourg, the committee
notes the "persistent shortcomings" in Turkey’s reform process in
areas such as freedom of expression, religious and minority rights,
the role of the military, policing, women’s rights, trade union rights
and cultural rights.

According to an EP statement released Tuesday, the report urges Turkey
to "reinvigorate" the reform process.

MEPs also urge Turkey "to take concrete steps for normalization of
bilateral relations" with Cyprus "as soon as possible." The Foreign
Affairs Committee calls on Turkey "to recognize the Armenian genocide
as a pre-condition for accession" and for a lowering of the threshold
of ten percent of votes below which political parties cannot enter
the Turkish parliament.

MEPs repeated the warning that negotiations do no automatically lead
to membership and that whether or not negotiations are successfully
concluded, Turkey must remain "fully anchored in European structures."

The report, prepared by Dutch MEP Camiel Eurlings, was adopted by 53
votes in favor to 6 against with 8 abstentions. It will be debated
by the whole EP during its next plenary session on September 25-28.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress