EU WELCOMES ELECTIONS BUT RAPS LACK OF REFORM

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Oct 26 2007

The European Union is about to tell Turkey that it has to speed up
reforms — in particular on human rights — but at the same time will
praise Turkish leadership for the smooth elections after a serious
constitutional crisis. A progress report expected to be released
on Nov. 6 is to criticize the slow pace of reforms, the role of the
military in civilian politics and Ankara’s refusal to open its ports
to Greek Cypriot vessels and planes. The draft has harsh words on the
military as generals tried to influence the presidential elections
back in April. The details of the report that have been leaked to the
press have some positive words for Turkey as well. The draft, which
has not mentioned the latest stand-off on the Iraqi border spurred
by Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorism, praises the handling
of the constitutional crisis triggered by a military memorandum of
April 27. The draft also speaks highly of the economic reforms that
have led to strong economic growth. Limited progress was made on the
political front in 2007, according to the draft, saying that further
efforts are needed in particular on freedom of expression, civilian
control of the military and the rights of non-Muslim minorities. It
specifically mentions the murder of Armenian-Turkish journalist
Hrant Dink last January and the military intervention of April 27
in the presidential election. "Further progress is also needed on
fighting corruption, judicial reform and rights of trade unions,
women and children," said the draft. The draft does not yet include
any recommendations, considered the most significant part of the
document. The recommendations are usually formulated by the EU
Commission on the eve of the report’s publication. The commission,
in its annual progress report, admires the political leadership for
its smooth handling of the stand-off between the military and the
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government. "The outcome
of the spring constitutional crisis reaffirms the primacy of the
democratic process, but the military, behind several coups in the last
50 years, should stop trying to influence the democratic process,"
the draft said. "The military has taken public positions on issues
going beyond their remit, and the full civilian supervision of the
military and parliamentary oversight of defence spending still need
to be established," it added, according to the leaked document. The
draft criticized Turkey for not fulfilling a promise to open ports
to vessels from Greek Cyprus as part of normalization of relations
with the southern part of the divided island, which is an EU member.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress