EP URGES TURKEY TO WITHDRAW THE TROOPS FROM CYPRUS

Aysor
Feb 11 2010
Armenia

EP approved a resolution on Turkey urging the country to ease local
restrictions on civil liberties and settle its long-standing issues
with Cyprus.

The parliament urged the country to improve the rights of women and
of its Kurdish minority, adopt a new law on increasing press freedom
and withdraw its troops from northern Cyprus. "Progress in terms
of concrete reforms remained limited in 2009," the resolution said,
urging Ankara to "translate its political initiatives into concrete
amendments], writes Setimes.com

MEPs criticised Ankara for keeping airports and harbours closed to
Cypriot vessels, for the fourth year in a row. This is something that
could " seriously affect the process of negotiations," they warned.

Outstanding human rights issues and the banning of a political party
for the Kurdish minority were also flagged up by MEPs. On the positive
side, they noted the thaw in Turkish-Armenian relations and a law
removing restrictions on broadcasting in Kurdish. Twelve out of the
negotiation 35 chapters have so far been opened with Turkey since
2006 when accession talks started, euobserver.com informs.