EU-TURKEY NEGOTIATIONS PARTLY SUSPENDED
Petros Keshishian

AZG Armenian Daily
14/12/2006

On the eve of the EU summit December 14-15, the Foreign Ministers of
the EU member adhering to the resolutions of the European Commission,
made decision that the EU-Turkey negotiations should be partly
suspended and 8 of the 35 points of the talks be left out of the
agenda. The question of adopting the Ankara Protocol (which implies
the recognition of Cyprus) and the question of opening Turkey’s sea
and air space for Cyprian transport are among those 8 points.

The Federation of European Armenians informs that the 25 EU states
demand the European Commission to present annual reports about the
fulfillment of Turkey’s commitments through 2009. President of the
Federation Hilda Choboyan said that such decision increases the
uncertainty in the EU-Turkey relations. To Ms.

Choboyan’s opinion definite terms of adopting the Ankara Protocol
should be established.

The Federation stresses that the human rights violations in Turkey
can seriously harm the Pan-European progress. The organization points
out such severe violations as the denial of the Armenian Genocide,
oppression of Kurds and other religious and ethnic minorities and
restrictions of the freedom of speech. Turkey also refuses to stop
the economical and political blockade of Armenia, thus violating the
European Neighborhood principles.