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Schroeder urges Turkey to press forward with reforms demanded by EU
By JAMES C. HELICKE
AP Worldstream
May 04, 2005
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Wednesday urged Turkey to push
ahead with reforms demanded by the European Union amid concerns about
the country's progress in meeting the bloc's membership requirements.
The German leader also said the EU must do its part and emphasized
that momentum for Turkey's EU accession shouldn't depend on "changing
opinion polls."
EU officials have recently expressed concern that Turkish reform
efforts slowed after the bloc agreed in December to start membership
talks with Turkey on October.
Schroeder, one of Turkey's staunchest allies in the EU, urged Turkey to
take steps required before the talks can begin _ including recognizing
Cyprus' Greek Cypriot-led government. Still, he expressed confidence
the accession talks would proceed as scheduled.
"What's important is that the prime minister's government make clear
that 'We are not hesitating' and that 'We will continue decisively
on this path," Schroeder said at a news conference in Ankara with
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Schroeder added that the EU must also do its part, by guaranteeing the
"punctual" beginning of talks on Oct. 3.
For the talks to begin, "a few things are necessary. The reforms must
be realized, the Ankara protocol must be signed," he said. "I have
good hope it will work out."
The protocol expands a customs agreement with the EU to the group's
10 new members, including Cyprus _ a move the EU says would amount
to de facto recognition.
Schroeder said it was important for the bloc to start talks with
Turkey, saying the accession carried "strategic" significance.
The United States has also long backed Turkish accession saying that
admitting the overwhelmingly Muslim, but staunchly secular state
would promote stability in the region and serve as a symbol to many
Muslims that their future was with the West.
Many Europeans, however, have expressed concerned about admitting
the relatively poor, mainly Muslim country, saying the Muslim country
isn't European and its accession could overwhelm the bloc.
"One cannot make such an important, strategic decision of such
immense historical meaning dependent on changing opinion polls,"
Schroeder said.
Erdogan said the two leaders also discussed Cyprus, the Middle East,
and Turkish concerns about a German opposition push for Turkey to
examine its role in the massacre of Armenians at the time of World
War I.
Schroeder praised recent calls by Erdogan to establish a joint
Turkish-Armenian commission to study the killings, considered a
genocide by Armenians. He said he hoped the Armenian government would
recognize the "sensibility of the proposal." Turkey denies a genocide
was committed and says Armenians exaggerate the number of those killed.
Erdogan later met with Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
Schroeder was later expected in Istanbul, where he was scheduled to
meet with the Istanbul-based spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox
Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.
By JAMES C. HELICKE
AP Worldstream
May 04, 2005
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Wednesday urged Turkey to push
ahead with reforms demanded by the European Union amid concerns about
the country's progress in meeting the bloc's membership requirements.
The German leader also said the EU must do its part and emphasized
that momentum for Turkey's EU accession shouldn't depend on "changing
opinion polls."
EU officials have recently expressed concern that Turkish reform
efforts slowed after the bloc agreed in December to start membership
talks with Turkey on October.
Schroeder, one of Turkey's staunchest allies in the EU, urged Turkey to
take steps required before the talks can begin _ including recognizing
Cyprus' Greek Cypriot-led government. Still, he expressed confidence
the accession talks would proceed as scheduled.
"What's important is that the prime minister's government make clear
that 'We are not hesitating' and that 'We will continue decisively
on this path," Schroeder said at a news conference in Ankara with
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Schroeder added that the EU must also do its part, by guaranteeing the
"punctual" beginning of talks on Oct. 3.
For the talks to begin, "a few things are necessary. The reforms must
be realized, the Ankara protocol must be signed," he said. "I have
good hope it will work out."
The protocol expands a customs agreement with the EU to the group's
10 new members, including Cyprus _ a move the EU says would amount
to de facto recognition.
Schroeder said it was important for the bloc to start talks with
Turkey, saying the accession carried "strategic" significance.
The United States has also long backed Turkish accession saying that
admitting the overwhelmingly Muslim, but staunchly secular state
would promote stability in the region and serve as a symbol to many
Muslims that their future was with the West.
Many Europeans, however, have expressed concerned about admitting
the relatively poor, mainly Muslim country, saying the Muslim country
isn't European and its accession could overwhelm the bloc.
"One cannot make such an important, strategic decision of such
immense historical meaning dependent on changing opinion polls,"
Schroeder said.
Erdogan said the two leaders also discussed Cyprus, the Middle East,
and Turkish concerns about a German opposition push for Turkey to
examine its role in the massacre of Armenians at the time of World
War I.
Schroeder praised recent calls by Erdogan to establish a joint
Turkish-Armenian commission to study the killings, considered a
genocide by Armenians. He said he hoped the Armenian government would
recognize the "sensibility of the proposal." Turkey denies a genocide
was committed and says Armenians exaggerate the number of those killed.
Erdogan later met with Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
Schroeder was later expected in Istanbul, where he was scheduled to
meet with the Istanbul-based spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox
Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.