EP APPROVES TURKEY’S 2007 COUNTRY REPORT

Hurriyet
May 21 2008
Turkey

Turkey set to push ahead with EU membership talks

In its latest progress report on Turkey, adopted by a large majority
of 467 for, 62 against and 61 abstentions, the European Parliament
welcomes recent legislative activities in the country, while insisting
that the speed of reforms must pick up. (UPDATED)

The own-initiative report, drawn up by Dutch parliamentarian Ria
Oomen-Ruijten, "welcomes the commitment of Prime Minister Tayyip
Erdogan that 2008 is going to be the year of reforms" and "urges the
Turkish government to fulfil its promises" by implementing them.

While the Parliament stresses that "modernisation is first and foremost
in Turkey’s own interest," it also notes that "further delays will
seriously affect the pace of negotiations."

The parliament rejected amendments to the report regarding the
incidents of 1915 submitted by a group of French MEPs trying to
support Armenian allegations against Turkey.

MEPs expressed their concern about "the excessive use of force by
Turkish police against demonstrators at this year’s May Day parade
in Istanbul.

The amendment also said the changes made in the controversial article
301 of Turkish Penal Code were not enough and urged Turkish parliament
to revise the article and completely remove other restrictive
stipulations.

The report, adopted last month by the European Parliamentary Committee
on Foreign Affairs, expressed concern about the potential consequences
of the recent dissolution case filed against Turkey’s ruling Justice
and Development Party (AKP).

Another amendment to the report said the EP expected Turkish
Constitutional Court to act in accordance with the Venice Commission
guidelines and European standards on the prohibition of political
parties.

It also called on the Turkish government to respect pluralism,
secularism and democracy while carrying out reforms and to reach a
compromise with political parties and urged the political parties to
distance themselves from violence and terrorist organizations.

"Since the last report, we have seen some very positive developments
in Turkey (the Law on Foundations, some reform of Article 301). We
have a mixed picture, and a lot more needs to be done in order for
Turkey to keep its promises to the EU and to its own people," Ruijten
said in the debate on Wednesday morning.

She said a new constitution is the only way the government can ensure
separation of state and religion, and all civil society representatives
need to be involved in this process, adding that 2008 was supposed
to be the year of reforms for Turkey.

"We have a mixed picture, a lot more needs to be done, in order for
Turkey to keep their promises to the EU and to their own people. This
is a balanced report… But we are concerned with regard to the
case against the AKP, hopefully the constitutional court will follow
international law on this issue," she said.

"We want to ensure that Turkey remains a lay state. Separation between
church and state is creating friction in Turkish society. Nearly 50%
of citizens are concerned about the state of the secular state. A new
constitution is the only way the government can ensure separation of
state and religion, and all civil society representatives need to be
involved in this process," Ruijten added.

Parliament can make recommendations on foreign policy, although these
are not binding on the 27 EU states. The resolution will be taken
into account when the Commission makes its annual report on Turkey
accession process in October.