EU REFORMS ARE THE BEST REMEDY FOR POST-CASE ERA
Turkish Daily News
Aug 4 2008
President Abdullah Gul urged the ruling Justice and Development Party,
or AKP, to revive the reform process aimed at aligning the country
with the democratic norms of the European Union, days after the party
narrowly escaped closure by the top court.
"Integration with the EU is state policy and a strategic decision. But
it cannot run at an idle speed. [The process] should be hastened,"
Gul said in an interview with Hasan Cemal, a columnist from daily
Milliyet, over the weekend.
Turkey wasted nearly two years with domestic political turmoil, which
caused a dramatic slowdown in full membership negotiations with the EU.
"We should take on the EU target with determination. The reform
process cannot be in tatters. There is a need to focus Turkey on
the EU target and put it in a comprehensive reform process. A reform
campaign should be launched," Gul told Milliyet.
A former AKP foreign minister, Gul underlined the need for the
contribution of all political parties, nongovernmental organizations
and other important actors of society. "Everybody mentions the same
things, like democracy, the rule of law and freedoms. But when it
comes to meeting the EU criteria and their implementation, some of
them wriggle out … That’s why a whole reform campaign is a must,"
he explained.
Initiative in Cyprus talks
On the subject of the Cyprus talks, Gul was clear that the government
should continue to take the lead in encouraging Turkish and Greek
Cypriots to reach a compromise for a lasting and fair solution. "We
should avoid accumulating problems. We will surely not sacrifice our
interests, but instead of defending the status quo, the right thing to
do is to take initiatives for a settlement just as in 2004," he said.
Cyprus is one of the most important problems Turkey faces on its way
to the EU. Eight negotiation chapters out of 35 were suspended by
the EU Commission in 2006 when Turkey refused to open its ports and
airports to Greek Cypriot ships and aircraft.
A new peace process was launched between the parties in late July,
and direct talks will be resumed Sept. 5.
Gul going to Yerevan?
Speaking on another foreign policy dossier, which includes a potential
landmark visit by the president to Yerevan for a national football
match between Turkey and Armenia, Gul did not disclose his decision
whether to go to the neighboring country.
"We are evaluating this," Gul said, in a separate interview with daily
Sabah over the weekend. "We have no feelings of hostility toward
Armenia … but the problems cannot be settled just by Turkey’s
efforts. They also have responsibilities," Gul said.
According to the president, a peaceful solution to the problem requires
an overall recognition of the territorial integrity of each country
in the region, alluding to Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijan’s
territories since the mid-90s.
Time to engage in self-criticism
In his interview with daily Milliyet, the president also touched
on the recent ruling of the top court on the closure case and gave
recommendations to all political actors.
"Everybody, all of us, needs to engage in self-criticism and show
empathy to others … The country is tired," Gul underlined. But
"while cooling down, we must not forget that there are fences to be
mended," he added. Gul, a former AKP member who is now neutral by law,
said Turkey’s secular democratic system was deep-rooted but called
for more efforts to heal political divisions. "No one must interfere
in the lifestyle of others … We can eradicate the existing concerns
together," he said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress