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NTV MSNBC, Turkey
Dec 15 2006
Armenian Patriarch backs Turkey's EU bid
The EU's leaders should not impose unilateral conditions on Turkey.
Mesrob said.
Güncelleme: 03:45 ET 15 Aralık 2006 Cuma
ISTANBUL - The head of the Armenian church in Turkey has called on
the leaders of the European Union not to undermine Ankara's bid for
membership of the bloc.
A letter released by the office of Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II late
Thursday, sent to the leaders of the EU's 25 member states, said that
efforts should be made to overcome a critical period in Turkey's
accession process.
The letter was made public on the day that the EU leaders endorsed a
recommendation by the European Commission to partially suspend
Turkey's membership negotiations in response to Ankara's refusal to
open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot trade. `The EU's leaders
will make a critical decision in Turkey-EU relations, which will have
broad consequences,' Mesrob II said in his letter. `My concern about
this decision is that current unsolved problems could jeopardise the
country's membership process and Turkey-EU relations in general.'
Turkey was committed to becoming a member of the EU and was enacting
the political and economic reforms required under the accession
criteria, the Patriarch said. `These reforms have improved the basic
rights of Turkish citizens including religious minorities,' wrote
Mesrob. `This positive process will of course continue.' The EU
should not derail Turkey's membership negotiations by imposing
unilateral conditions without taking into account Turkey's other
commitments, he said. `Your leadership is of utmost importance in
preventing the European Council from taking a negative decision,'
Mesrob wrote. `I hope that your strategic vision would mediate
putting the process back on track.'
Dec 15 2006
Armenian Patriarch backs Turkey's EU bid
The EU's leaders should not impose unilateral conditions on Turkey.
Mesrob said.
Güncelleme: 03:45 ET 15 Aralık 2006 Cuma
ISTANBUL - The head of the Armenian church in Turkey has called on
the leaders of the European Union not to undermine Ankara's bid for
membership of the bloc.
A letter released by the office of Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II late
Thursday, sent to the leaders of the EU's 25 member states, said that
efforts should be made to overcome a critical period in Turkey's
accession process.
The letter was made public on the day that the EU leaders endorsed a
recommendation by the European Commission to partially suspend
Turkey's membership negotiations in response to Ankara's refusal to
open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot trade. `The EU's leaders
will make a critical decision in Turkey-EU relations, which will have
broad consequences,' Mesrob II said in his letter. `My concern about
this decision is that current unsolved problems could jeopardise the
country's membership process and Turkey-EU relations in general.'
Turkey was committed to becoming a member of the EU and was enacting
the political and economic reforms required under the accession
criteria, the Patriarch said. `These reforms have improved the basic
rights of Turkish citizens including religious minorities,' wrote
Mesrob. `This positive process will of course continue.' The EU
should not derail Turkey's membership negotiations by imposing
unilateral conditions without taking into account Turkey's other
commitments, he said. `Your leadership is of utmost importance in
preventing the European Council from taking a negative decision,'
Mesrob wrote. `I hope that your strategic vision would mediate
putting the process back on track.'