TURKEY NOT SATISFIED WITH REASONS BEHIND NON-OPENING OF MONETARY CHAPTER

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
June 26 2007

["STATISTICS AND FINANCIAL CONTROL CHAPTERS OPENED FOR NEGOTIATION;
NOT JUST THE CANDIDATE STATES, BUT ENTIRE EUROPE SHOULD RESPECT THE
COMMON EU VALUES, REHN" – AA headline]

BRUSSELS (A.A) -26.06.2007 -The statistics and financial control
chapter headings under the accession negotiation talks between
Turkey and the EU have been opened on Tuesday at the Intergovernmental
Conference held at the European Council in Brussels with the attendance
of Turkish State Minister and Chief EU Negotiator for EU talks Ali
Babacan, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and EU
Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn.

Speaking at the joint press conference, minister Babacan said the
technical reasons put forth about the economy and monetary policy
which was not opened due to France’s opposition did not satisfy Turkey.

Babacan said despite Germany’s numerous announcements that three
chapters would be opened, the economy and monetary policy chapter
was not opened.

"Some technical reasons were put forward although the EU commission
assessed that Turkey met the technical criteria regarding the economy
and monetary policy chapter heading during the talks that were held
at the EU Council between member states. We are not satisfied with
the reasons put forward (by France) regarding the chapter heading
that was not opened," said Babacan.

Babacan said they would follow the issue and indicated they would be
insistent on the opening of this chapter during the term presidency
of Portugal.

"I think technical pretexts like these should not be put forth
according to the established practices of EU in negotiations. Member
states should not allow some members to raise obstacles that are
irrelevant in the negotiation process.

The belief that both sides share the same determination is important
for negotiation talks to run smoothly," said Babacan.

Not just the candidate countries, but entire Europe should respect the
common values of EU, said EU commissioner for enlargement Olli Rehn
on Tuesday who spoke at a conference held by the European Commission.

Rehn, in his speech, indirectly warned France which opposes Turkey’s
membership to the EU and prepares legal arrangements to punish denial
of so-called Armenian genocide.

Noting that in fact the enlargement has been a part of European
integration from the beginning, Rehn said that in 1963, while French
President of the time Gen. De Gaulle opposed the membership of Britain,
the same year he signed Ankara treaty with Turkey.

Rehn added that if Turkey becomes an EU member in 2017, it will have
become a member only 60 years after EU’s foundation.