BAN ON FREE SPEECH KEEPING TURKEY OUT OF EU
David Charter in Brussels

The Times/UK
November 7, 2007

A growing number of prosecutions against writers and academics
is damaging Turkey’s case to become a fully fledged member of the
European Union, an annual assessment report said yesterday.

The country has made little progress in the past year and its failure
to end torture, improve minority rights or guarantee freedom of
expression were all highlighted as significant stumbling blocks to
EU membership.

Britain joined the European Commission in arguing that only the offer
of full membership would bring real reform inside Turkey, but President
Sarkozy Sarkozy of France, has led calls for the Muslim nation of 71
million to be offered only associate membership.

Olli Rehn, the Enlargement Commissioner, signalled a battle with those
who want to end Turkey’s hopes of membership, however, declaring:
"Conditionality only works if the EU respects its own commitment to
the prospect of accession. Without this, we can always demand reforms
but this would be as if we were speaking to the wall."

Bush pledges US help for Turkey over Kurds crisis Population growth
would probably make Turkey the EU’s largest member if it joins, as
it hopes, by 2020, and give the Community borders with Syria, Iran
and Iraq. But there are many hurdles yet to overcome, the European
Commission’s progress check said.

One of the key demands was for the repeal of Article 301 of the Turkish
penal code, which makes it a crime to insult Turkish identity. The
article has been used to prosecute the Nobel prize-winning author
Orhan Pamuk and the murdered journalist Hrant Dink for commenting on
the killings of Armenians by Turks in the early 20th century.

The report cautioned: "The prosecution and conviction for the
expression of non-violent opinions under certain provisions of the
Turkish criminal code are a cause of serious concern. The number of
persons almost doubled in 2006 compared with 2005 and there was a
further increase in 2007. The Turkish legal system does not fully
guarantee freedom of expression in line with European standards."

Mr Rehn added: "It is not acceptable that writers, journalists,
academics and other intellectuals . . . are prosecuted for simply
expressing a critical but completely non-violent opinion."

Yielding to pressure from the EU Mehmet Ali Sahin, the Turkish Justice
Minister, said last night that a new Bill repealing Article 301 would
be put before Parliament in the coming days.

"Several drafts have been prepared in line with proposals by civic
groups. The Cabinet will discuss them at first opportunity, select one
and submit it to parliament," Mr Sahin told Anatolia news agency. Other
issues remain outstanding, however. The EU repeated demands that
Ankara normalise relations with Cyprus and honour a 2005 agreement
to open its ports and airports to the EU member.

The pace of reforms had slowed since Turkey’s membership negotiations
opened two years ago. "Cases of torture and ill-treatment are still
being reported, especially during arrest and outside detention
centres," it added.

It commended the Turkish Government for solving a constitutional
crisis before President Gul was elected this year, but said that the
military still exerted "significant political influence".

In the southeast of the country: "Turkey needs to create the conditions
for the predominantly Kurdish population there to enjoy full rights
and freedoms."

Mr Rehn would not be drawn on the consequences for Turkey’s membership
ambitions if it invaded Iraq to quash Kurdish separatists.

Wider community

EU enlargement candidate countries Croatia The former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia Turkey

Potential candidates Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Montenegro Serbia
Kosovo (under United Nations Interim Administration Mission)