STATE MINISTER BABACAN ON TURKEY’S E.U. ACCESSION

Anatolian Times, Turkey
Nov 2 2006

DUBLIN – "Turkey has always worked to achieve its goal of being
integrated into modern world," Turkish State Minister & Chief
Negotiator for EU talks Ali Babacan said on Thursday.

Addressing the National Forum on Europe comprised of parliamentarians
and representatives of nongovernmental organizations in Dublin, Babacan
stressed, "there are deep-rooted relations between Turkey and EU."

Babacan indicated that the integration process of Turkey which has
been continued for more than 50 years was based on freedom, democracy,
basic rights and supremacy of law.

"The start of membership talks between Turkey and the EU was also a
historical step for the Union. Turkey’s membership negotiations will
be long, difficult and challenging," he underlined.

Stating that Turkey’s EU accession would strengthen the EU which
played a significant role in global world, Babacan noted, "Turkey
will also assist the EU in regard to settlement of stability in the
Middle East and improvement of prosperity in Central Asia, Middle
East and Caucasus."

"Turkey’s full membership will also assist EU in regard to its foreign
policy and security," he noted.

Babacan said, "Turkey which acts as a bridge between Europe and Asia
will serve as a natural line between Europe and regional countries."

Stating that Turkey contributed to the EU with its young population,
he indicated, "Turkey will work hard for its EU accession process."

"We fulfilled reforms to upgrade living standards of Turkish people.

There has been a great progress in Turkish economy as well,"
he underlined.

Noting that there has been increase in the trade volume between Turkey
and the EU countries, Babacan stated that foreign investors attached
great attention to Turkish economy.

"Turkey will catch Maastricht criteria before it becomes a full member
of the EU as a result of sound budgetary and monetary policies in
the country," he noted.

Upon questions about the Cyprus issue, Babacan said, "the Cyprus issue
has been continuing for nearly 40 years. Several attempts to find
a solution to the Cyprus issue failed to yield results. The latest
attempt was made by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan in
2004. Consequently, Turkish Cypriot people supported the plan in
the referenda while Greek Cypriots rejected it. On the other hand,
the EU failed to fulfil its promises to lift embargoes and isolation
imposed on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)."

When asked whether Turkey would open its ports and airports to the
Greek Cypriot traffic, Babacan said, "this is an practice envisaged in
the Customs Union. Some EU-member countries such as Belgium, Austria
and Italy apply the same practice against Turkish trucks on the
pretext that their quotas were full. The issue of opening of Turkish
ports and airports to the Greek Cypriot traffic should be brought onto
agenda at the same time with lifting of embargoes imposed on the TRNC."

Referring to the reform process in Turkey, Babacan said, "Turkish
parliament has displayed an extraordinary performance since the
beginning of the process, and adopted a number of legal amendments.

On the other hand, we need a mentality change to put those reforms
into practice. This mentality change takes time. We may not be perfect,
but we have taken quite important steps."

Upon a question about the Article 301 of the Penal Code on freedom
of expression, Babacan said, "Turkish government cannot intervene
in jurisdiction. But the article can be changed in the course of
the time."

Replying to another question about honor killings, Babacan said,
"those events have nothing to do with religious beliefs. They stem
from traditions."

Upon a question on problems faced in southeastern part of Turkey,
Babacan said, "Turkish state has never made a discrimination among
its citizens as Turkish or Kurdish. Also our state has made great
investments in the region. However, private sector’s investment is
essential for economic development of the region. The private sector
refrains from investing in the region due to instability and security
problems stemming from PKK terrorism."

Referring to recent developments in Iraq, Babacan said, "we have beer
advocating Iraq’s territorial integrity and political unity from the
very beginning. Also, we believe that Iraq’s natural resources should
be shared equally by all segments of Iraqi people."

Upon another question about role of radical Islam in Turkey, Babacan
said, "our understanding of secularism envisages separation of state
and religious affairs and enable our people to live their religious
beliefs freely. There is not much support to radicalism in Turkey."

"The Justice & Development Party (AKP) is not an Islamic political
party. It is rather a conservative party which protects its values
and traditions," he said.

Replying to another question about so-called Armenian genocide,
Babacan said, "only historians should deal with the past events.

Prime Minister Erdogan sent a letter to the Armenian prime minister
and proposed him to set up a joint commission to carry out research.

However, Armenia did not respond to our proposal in the affirmative.

Also, Turkey is ready to open its archives. But Armenians prefer to
carry out lobby activities instead of conducting scientific works."