TURKEY FOREWARNED EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
By Selcuk Gultasli, Brussels
Zaman Online, Turkey
Sept 11 2006
Turkey communicated its views to the European Parliament before open
discussions over the report adopted by the European Parliament (EP)
Foreign Affairs Committee last week.
In the 22-page document, Turkish foreign ministry officials provided
a detailed response to criticisms set out in the report prepared by
Dutch Christian Democrat Camiel Eurlings.
The document, sent to EP members who supported Turkey in the Foreign
Affairs Committee’s session held on Sept. 4 as well as the Turkey
coordinators of political groups represented in the Parliament,
informs the parliamentarians about a number of issues.
Underlining that Turkey will not accept any alternative to full
membership, and that thorny political issues should not be brought
to the table during the membership negotiations between Turkey and
the E.U., the document stresses that in the case of any interruption
to negotiations, the E.U. too will suffer.
It further urges that such an unfavorable situation would be
unacceptable in terms of the global expectations from the E.U.
Referring to the 2006 and 2007 reform programs; it also states that
Turkey has been working on a number of unresolved and unreformed
political and economic issues.
The document also notes that Turkey will await the formation of a
case regarding Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code rather than
amending it.
Noting that the E.U. stance vis-a-vis the Cyprus issue is
"incomprehensible," the document extensively covers the Cyprus and
Armenian issues as well as the Diyarbakir incidents.
The document underlines: Turkey is the second country that recognized
the independence of Armenia, and its trade volume with Armenia has
increased to $120 million.
Forty thousand Armenian citizens live and work in Turkey. Despite
those positive indicators, Armenia’s attitude is disappointing.
It has not yet responded to Turkey’s proposal to form a joint
commission of historians; the EP could encourage it to accept that
proposal. Turkey keeps its borders with Armenia closed because of the
Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh, and its failure to recognize
its border with Turkey.
The ongoing terror in Southeastern Turkey is a clear attempt by the
PKK to halt the reform process. The E.U. should immediately call on
the PKK to disarm, abandon terrorism, and dissolve itself.
Diyarbakir Gun TV, Diyarbakir Soz TV, and Urfa Medya FM have been
broadcasting in Kurdish since March 26. The time limitation on movies
and music shows was set for June 12.
The ninth reform package addressing the Law of Endowed Charities will
be discussed at the parliament soon after its inauguration.
The Turkish government is seeking ways consistent with the Constitution
and the secular educational system to resume education at Heybeliada
Priests School.
The relevant court has ruled on the Semdinli incident; because the
judiciary is dealing with it, no further comment should be made on
this matter.
Restrictions contained in articles 216, 277, 285, 288, 301, 305 and
318 of Turkish Penal Code are within the limits of the derogations
recognized under international law. The prosecutions made in connection
with those articles do not violate freedom of expression.
Similar provisions could be found in the penal codes of some E.U.
members. It should also be noted that most lawsuits filed based on
those articles have been dismissed by the relevant courts.
Any further compromise by Turkey regarding the Cyprus issue would
equal a reward for those who declined a viable resolution.