EU OFFICIAL SEES "HALT" IN TURKEY’S REFORM PROCESS

Nov 26 2008
Turkey

European Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee member and the
accompanying delegation held a press conference in Ankara after the
reception hosted in their honour.

European Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee member Hannes Swoboda
said Tuesday that they observed a halt in the reform process in Turkey.

Swoboda and the accompanying delegation held a press conference in
Ankara after the reception hosted in their honour.

Speaking at the press conference Swoboda said they had a very clear
message for Turkey: "Please continue the reform process".

Swoboda said they had the impression that the reform process slowed
down between 2007 and 2008.

Of course this could be due to the closure case at the constitutional
court and the upcoming municipal elections, he said, adding but none of
these are valid excuses If Turkey truly wants to become an EU member,
it should carry on the reforms with determination, said Swoboda.

Swoboda praised the active foreign policy Turkey pursued recently
and the normalization process in its relations with Armenia.

Also speaking at the press conference EP’s Turkey Rapporteur Ria Oomen
Ruijten said she would present the first draft of the Turkey report
to the EP next week and it would be opened to debate next Tuesday.

She said the report was well balanced and unbiased adding that it
could be more critical in certain areas compared to past, while more
positive in the area of foreign relations.

Rujiten also said there was a halt in the reform process in Turkey
noting that political reforms were more important than opening of
the chapters.

She added that with political reforms he meant reforms about
individual, cultural and constitutional rights and also the judicial
reform.