EUROPE CRITICIZES TURKEY BUT CONTINUES TALKS
By Petros Keshishian

AZG Armenian Daily
02/11/2006

On November 8, the European Union will make public a very harsh report
on Turkey, Le Figaro reports.

Despite this, the EU is unwilling to suspend accession talks with
Turkey.

The report points out that "the process of reforms has stepped down in
Turkey." Besides, the Cyprus issue is still unresolved. In December of
2005 the EU demanded that Ankara opens its harbors and airports for
Cypriot ships and airplanes by year-end 2006, otherwise threatening
to reconsider continuation of negotiations.

The ultimatum’s time is getting over, but there is no progress
in Ankara. Generally speaking, the European Commission favors
Turkey’s membership but the current situation raised discords
in Brussels. European commissioners’ stances differ depending on
political interests the countries they represent have. According to Le
Figaro, the French demand partial suspension of the talks (because of
neglecting the requirements of tax union) and the Cypriot commissioner
demands total suspension of membership talks.

In such situation Finland, which currently holds the rotating EU
presidency, suggests organizing the meeting of Turkish and Cypriot
foreign minister in Helsinki on November 5. According to the program
the Finns presented, the EU has to start trading with Northern Cyprus
for Turkey to open its ports to Cypriot ships.

At any rate, a final decision will be taken at the meeting of EU
member-state heads in Brussels on Dec 16. That very day instructions
of the European Commission that were disregarded in the past will be
taken into account. Turkey is particularly criticized for the poor
record in freedom of speech and the rights of women and the Kurds.

EU commissioner for enlargement, Olli Rehn, stated in a private
conversation that Islamization of the Turkish society is also
worrying. The European Commission would not dare raise this issue in
the past.