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Schroeder calls on Ankara to implement reforms
NTV MSNBC, Turkey
May 4 2005
The German Chancellor said more had to be done to ensure religious
freedoms in Turkey.
May 4 - Visiting German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has called on
Ankara to continue to implement the necessary reforms required by
the European Union for Turkey's accession to the bloc.
After meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
in Ankara Wednesday, Schroeder said that it was vital that Turkey
maintain its reform program in order for talks to start as scheduled
on October 3.
"The dynamism of December 2004 should continue and reforms should be
implemented uninterrupted," Schroeder said.
The promises made by the EU on December 17, when the bloc's leaders
agreed to open accession negotiations with Ankara remained valid but
it was important to continue implementing reforms in order to get
the negotiation process started, the German Chancellor said.
One of the main topics discussed in the meeting between Erdogan
and Schroeder was the Cyprus question. During the meeting, which was
closed to the press, Erdogan is reported to have said that the Turkish
Cypriot side was almost being punished despite its voting in favour of
reunification of the two states on the island in the United Nations
sponsored referendum in April 2004. It is reported that Schroeder
replied that the Turkish Cypriots should not politically punished.
Schroeder again gave his support to the proposal by Turkey to set up a
joint committee of historians to study the so-called Armenian genocide.
Later Wednesday, Schroeder also met with the Turkish President Ahmet
Necdet Sezer. Schroeder will be returning to Germany late Wednesday
evening after meeting with the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew,
being presented an honorary doctorate by the Marmara University and
meeting with representatives of the Turkish and German businessmen
association in Istanbul.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
NTV MSNBC, Turkey
May 4 2005
The German Chancellor said more had to be done to ensure religious
freedoms in Turkey.
May 4 - Visiting German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has called on
Ankara to continue to implement the necessary reforms required by
the European Union for Turkey's accession to the bloc.
After meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
in Ankara Wednesday, Schroeder said that it was vital that Turkey
maintain its reform program in order for talks to start as scheduled
on October 3.
"The dynamism of December 2004 should continue and reforms should be
implemented uninterrupted," Schroeder said.
The promises made by the EU on December 17, when the bloc's leaders
agreed to open accession negotiations with Ankara remained valid but
it was important to continue implementing reforms in order to get
the negotiation process started, the German Chancellor said.
One of the main topics discussed in the meeting between Erdogan
and Schroeder was the Cyprus question. During the meeting, which was
closed to the press, Erdogan is reported to have said that the Turkish
Cypriot side was almost being punished despite its voting in favour of
reunification of the two states on the island in the United Nations
sponsored referendum in April 2004. It is reported that Schroeder
replied that the Turkish Cypriots should not politically punished.
Schroeder again gave his support to the proposal by Turkey to set up a
joint committee of historians to study the so-called Armenian genocide.
Later Wednesday, Schroeder also met with the Turkish President Ahmet
Necdet Sezer. Schroeder will be returning to Germany late Wednesday
evening after meeting with the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew,
being presented an honorary doctorate by the Marmara University and
meeting with representatives of the Turkish and German businessmen
association in Istanbul.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress