TURKEY EDGES CLOSER TO EU WITH TALK OF CYPRUS SOLUTION

The Parliament.com
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Dec 2 2009

Turkey’s EU affairs minister has told a parliamentary committee that
a breakthrough on the Cyprus problem could be imminent.

Egemen Bagis told the foreign affairs panel he was "optimistic" of
a resolution to the long-running dispute between the Greek Cypriot
and Turkish Cypriot communities on the divided island.

Turkey’s EU accession is seen as being directly linked to a settlement
to the problem and Bagis said he thought the leaders of the two
communities could thrash out a "comprehensive solution."

"The current situation is difficult and we need all the parties
involved to be motivated and encouraged to help bring about a
settlement," he told MEPs.

He also told the committee that Turkey was currently a "very active"
player in peace building efforts in its region, saying it was "trying
to prevent fires breaking out."

"This is driven by our mutual interests and the need for more peace
in the region."

Such efforts, he said, showed that Turkey could be a "good team player
with the EU in preventing future conflict and wars."

His comments come on the day a parliamentary report on Turkish
accession was published.

The report by Ria Oomen-Ruijten expresses "concern" about ongoing
"polarisation within Turkish society and between political parties."

The MEP also calls on Turkey to "contribute actively to the
comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue."

She said, "I welcome the broad public debate on a range of
traditionally sensitive issues such as the role of the judiciary,
the rights of citizens of Kurdish origin, the rights of the Alevi
community, the role of the military and Turkey’s relations with
its neighbours.

"But I am concerned about ongoing polarisation within Turkish society
and between political parties," said Bagis, who is also Turkey’s main
negotiator in its EU accession talks.

According to Oomen-Ruijten the progress in terms of firm reforms has
remained limited in 2009.

She says, "Where legislation relevant to the Copenhagen political
criteria is in place, its implementation continues to be insufficient,
particularly in the areas of womens’ rights, non-discrimination,
zero tolerance of torture and the fight against corruption.

"A comprehensive and swift reform of the judiciary is therefore vital
for the success of the modernisation process in Turkey.

"I am very concerned about continued restrictions on press freedom –
particularly following the imposition of an unprecedented fine on a
media group – as well as regarding frequent website bans.

"Certain laws continue to be misused to restrict freedom of
expression," she continued. A new media law should be adopted in
light of the unhealthy links between media and business interests."

Oomen-Ruijten said she "deplores the fact" that, for the fourth
consecutive year, the additional protocol to the EC-Turkey association
agreement has not been implemented by Turkey and "failure to do so
may further seriously affect" the process of negotiations.

The deputy commends Turkey and Armenia on the efforts made to normalise
relations and says that Turkey’s signing of the intergovernmental
agreement on the Nabucco gas pipeline sends a "strong signal."

While she welcomes the dialogue entered into by the Turkish government
with non-Muslim religious communities and the Alevis she says "positive
steps and gestures cannot mask the lack of real reform of the legal
framework, which must enable these religious communities to function
without undue constraints."