TURKISH PM VOWS TO CONTINUE REFORMS ON FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS, FREEDOMS

People’s Daily Online, China
Sept 27 2006

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed Tuesday that his
government would continue reforms on the country’s fundamental rights
and freedoms, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

"One of the most important aspects of our European Union (EU) process
is to establish fundamental rights and freedoms in Turkey, " Erdogan,
who is also the leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party
(AKP), said at a parliamentary group meeting of the AKP.

"As you all know, it is not enough to change laws to establish
fundamental rights and freedoms. It requires a mental change, and
such a change takes time," he was quoted by Anatolia as saying.

Referring to the much-debated Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code,
which sets out up to three years in jail penalties for insulting the
Turkish Republic, Erdogan signaled an amendment on the article.

"If legitimate rights and freedoms are limited while we try to prevent
offensive acts in implementation of the Article 301 of the Penal Code,
we will make the necessary amendments to the article," Erdogan said.

Last week, the European Commission Representative to Turkey Hansjoerg
Kretschmer criticized Turkish army’s habit of intervening in many
civil affairs, including education and religion, attributing the lack
of expression freedom to Article 301.

"We insist that Article 301, which is the reason for the filing
of court cases on a number of people over expressing their ideas
in a democratic manner, should be removed or at least rewritten,"
said Kretschmer.

Noting that relations between Turkey and the EU have gained a dimension
when the bloc started entry negotiations with Turkey on Oct. 3, 2005,
Erdogan underlined that the EU adjustment laws would be high on agenda
in the new legislative year.

He also expressed the government’s determination in maintaining the
reform process without any interruption.

Erdogan’s remarks came as the report on Turkey’s progress towards
accession to the EU and the reforms, which was prepared by European
Parliament (EP) Turkey Rapporteur Camiel Eurlings, is being discussed
in the EP on Tuesday. The voting of the report is to take place
on Wednesday.

Earlier this month, the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee
approved Camiel Eurlings’ report on Turkey, which calls on Turkey to
recognize the Armenians genocide in the period between 1915 and 1923,
and to open its ports to Greek Cypriot traffic.

The draft report also insists that there are persistent shortcomings in
areas such as freedom of expression, religious, minority and women’s
rights in Turkey.