EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS: DID TURKEY GAIN OR LOSE?

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
09.06.2009 19:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Diplomatic sources said Turkey was still evaluating
the results but made it clear that the outcome would not cause
Ankara to lose its appetite for full membership in the EU. "We are
resolutely proceeding on our road," said a Turkish diplomat who
requested anonymity.

Conservatives won a decisive victory over socialists in the European
Parliament elections, leading to questions about Europe’s direction
in the upcoming five-year period. "I am absolutely happy that we
did win the elections," Ria Oomen-Ruijten, Turkey rapporteur of the
European Parliament, told the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review
yesterday. Dutch Christian Democrat Oomen-Ruijten will continue drawing
up reports on Turkey in the next term: her re-election after the vote
will be officially announced Thursday.

She highlighted that the result should not be a source of concern for
Turkey. "We are still the largest group in the European Parliament,"
she said.

"The fact that Social Democrats have lost seats in the European
Parliament is not good news for Turkey," Jan Marinus Wiersma of the
Socialist Group in parliament told the Daily News. "We have consistent
support for Turkey’s ambitions to become a member of the EU. We know
it is a difficult track and long process, but we are always in contact
with Turkey’s government and the main opposition party."

The center-right European People’s Party secured 267 seats, making
it the biggest group in the 736-member parliament, ahead of the
socialists on 159 seats, down from 215, according to estimates.