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Euro-reporters.com, Belgium
July 12 2005
Turkey: only full membership
Written by Brussels journalist David Ferguson
Tuesday, 12 July 2005
"This long awaited decision to start negotiations confirmed the desire of
both sides to forward our relationship towards full membership. I emphasize
'full membership' as no document signed between Turkey and the EU nor any
other EU decision envisages any other option," said Ali Babacan, Turkish
Chief EU Negotiator.
"Nor does Turkey's desire to enter into any other relationship that cannot
be described as full membership," said Babacan. He was responding to growing
voices in the EU calling for expansion to stop at the gates of Istanbul.
Right-of-centre politicians, especially from Germany's CDU-CSU party are
pushing for a 'special relationship' with Ankara that stops far short of
full membership. They include CDU boss Angela Merkel, who is ever more
likely to be Germany's future Chancellor.
"The prospect of Turkish accession has an impact on the future of Europe. It
is crucial that an institution like the European Parliament recognizes the
value of Turkey and its future presence in Europe," Babacan said. The
Turkish Treasury Minister and Chief EU Negotiator was speaking to MEPs in
Brussels. Babacan argued that Turkey had implemented many of the key
political and economic reforms as well as changes to ensure greater respect
for cultural rights.
"We are fully aware of the deficiencies and the work to be done. But the
comprehensive nature of political reforms so far is a clear sign of the
transformation going on in Turkish society," said the 38-year old minister.
"Reforms range from enhancing basic fundamental rights, furthering cultural
rights, bringing civilian-military relations to European norms, expanding
the freedom of the press and gender equality."
"The recent report by the European Parliament on the status of women in
Turkey makes a number of significant recommendation. We'll take that into
account to strengthen gender equality," continued Babacan. "We want cultural
rights, private local language courses have become operational and public
television has started to broadcast programmes in various dialects."
Late last month, the European Commission presented a draft framework for
accession negotiations with Turkey. Appearing before the European
Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn
stressed that the accession negotiation framework was the most rigorous ever
proposed by the Commission. "Drawing lessons from the previous round of
enlargement," said Rehn, "the focus will be less on commitments and more on
practice, less on words and more on deeds."
The Commission wants negotiations to start with Turkey on 3 October. To do
that, Turkey still needs to make more progress in the fields of human
rights, religious and cultural freedom. Turkey must also sign the so-called
Ankara protocol that signifies recognition of Cyprus. As to Armenia, Turkey
must maintain "good neighbourly relations" and open its borders. Recognition
of the events of 1915-1916, that Armenia and many EU states call a genocide,
is not a precondition for opening accession negotiations.
July 12 2005
Turkey: only full membership
Written by Brussels journalist David Ferguson
Tuesday, 12 July 2005
"This long awaited decision to start negotiations confirmed the desire of
both sides to forward our relationship towards full membership. I emphasize
'full membership' as no document signed between Turkey and the EU nor any
other EU decision envisages any other option," said Ali Babacan, Turkish
Chief EU Negotiator.
"Nor does Turkey's desire to enter into any other relationship that cannot
be described as full membership," said Babacan. He was responding to growing
voices in the EU calling for expansion to stop at the gates of Istanbul.
Right-of-centre politicians, especially from Germany's CDU-CSU party are
pushing for a 'special relationship' with Ankara that stops far short of
full membership. They include CDU boss Angela Merkel, who is ever more
likely to be Germany's future Chancellor.
"The prospect of Turkish accession has an impact on the future of Europe. It
is crucial that an institution like the European Parliament recognizes the
value of Turkey and its future presence in Europe," Babacan said. The
Turkish Treasury Minister and Chief EU Negotiator was speaking to MEPs in
Brussels. Babacan argued that Turkey had implemented many of the key
political and economic reforms as well as changes to ensure greater respect
for cultural rights.
"We are fully aware of the deficiencies and the work to be done. But the
comprehensive nature of political reforms so far is a clear sign of the
transformation going on in Turkish society," said the 38-year old minister.
"Reforms range from enhancing basic fundamental rights, furthering cultural
rights, bringing civilian-military relations to European norms, expanding
the freedom of the press and gender equality."
"The recent report by the European Parliament on the status of women in
Turkey makes a number of significant recommendation. We'll take that into
account to strengthen gender equality," continued Babacan. "We want cultural
rights, private local language courses have become operational and public
television has started to broadcast programmes in various dialects."
Late last month, the European Commission presented a draft framework for
accession negotiations with Turkey. Appearing before the European
Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn
stressed that the accession negotiation framework was the most rigorous ever
proposed by the Commission. "Drawing lessons from the previous round of
enlargement," said Rehn, "the focus will be less on commitments and more on
practice, less on words and more on deeds."
The Commission wants negotiations to start with Turkey on 3 October. To do
that, Turkey still needs to make more progress in the fields of human
rights, religious and cultural freedom. Turkey must also sign the so-called
Ankara protocol that signifies recognition of Cyprus. As to Armenia, Turkey
must maintain "good neighbourly relations" and open its borders. Recognition
of the events of 1915-1916, that Armenia and many EU states call a genocide,
is not a precondition for opening accession negotiations.