ESTONIAN, TURKISH MINISTERS VIEW EU DECISION TO SUSPEND TALKS

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Dec 6 2006

Tallinn, 6 December: "Decision of the EU Commission to partially
suspend talks with Turkey under eight chapter headings is excessive.

Only three of them are related to Customs Union," said Estonian
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet on Wednesday [6 December].

The Turkish state minister and chief negotiator for EU talks,
Ali Babacan, and Estonian Foreign Minister Paet held a joint news
conference following their meeting in Tallinn.

Replying to a question, Paet said Estonia advocated Turkey’s EU
membership bid and indicated that "commission’s decision to link
provisional closing of other negotiating chapters to Cyprus is not
right. This will have a negative impact on relations with Turkey."

Indicating that EU’s enlargement should include Turkey, Paet
underscored that "this will add a cultural richness to us".

On the other hand, Babacan emphasized that Estonia supported Turkey’s
membership to the EU and indicated that Turkey and NATO member Estonia
were allies.

Responding to a question about Cyprus, Babacan said Cyprus question
should not hinder Turkish-EU relations. He said although Turkish
Cypriot party accepted the UN plan, it was again the Turkish Cypriot
party that is punished.

Babacan underscored that the EU did not fulfil its commitment to end
the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot party, adding that unilateral step
would not be taken on resolution of the Cyprus question. He said Turkey
could accept opening of ports in parallel to removal of the blockade.

[Passage omitted]

Asked about the so-called Armenian genocide, Babacan said it was the
duty of the historians to investigate the matter, indicating that
Turkey was ready for any research that would be carried out.

"Turkey has asked Armenian administration to establish a
joint commission to investigate the so-called Armenian genocide
allegations. Researchers that will be assigned by the UN and the EU
could also take place in this research," he noted.