DOES SWEDEN COMPENSATE THE DECISION OF ITS PARLIAMENT?
PanARMENIAN.Net
19.03.2010 17:05 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The government of Sweden has stated about its
readiness to politically and materially support Turkey on the way
to its accession to the EU. The web-site of the Swedish government
published a statement of intent to develop strategic cooperation with
Turkey. That statement stressed that Turkey’s EU membership will be
encouraged and supported by Sweden.
According to the statement, Turkey will get support in matters of
democracy, equality and human rights. "Turkey is one of the most
important partners of Sweden, and reforms conducted in this country
are important to us," the statement reads. It indicates that Sweden is
ready to assist Turkey not only in legal reforms, but, for instance,
in attracting women to the democratization process and in projects
related to minority rights.
SIDA and the Center for Turkish-Swedish friendship at the Embassy of
Sweden in Istanbul will coordinate the development of cooperation
between Turkey and Sweden. SIDA, for example, will provide an
opportunity to Turkish students to take part in human rights and
democracy projects. Similar projects will be implemented in Turkey
with participation of Swedish students, TRT-Russian said.
On March 11 Swedish Parliament (131 votes in favor and 130 against)
recognized Armenian Genocide, as well as genocide of the Assyrians
and Pontic Greeks in the Ottoman Empire.
Turkey has started negotiations over its EU accession in 2005.
In 1963 Turkey signed a treaty with the EU predecessor, the European
Economic Community (EEC), which recognized the right of the country
to join the union.
In 1978-1979 Turkey is invited to join the EEC, together with Greece,
but Turkey refused.
In August 2002, the reform program was adopted by the Turkish
parliament, and in October 2004 the European Commission recommended
to start negotiations with Turkey over its EU accession.
Turkish-European relations are complicated by Turkey’s unwillingness
to recognize Cyprus, which in May 2004 joined the European Union. In
1974 Turkey invaded the northern part of the island, and since then
its government has not recognized the legitimacy of the government
of the south – Greek part.