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OLLI REHN: OUR RELATIONS WITH ANKARA ARE SCHIZOPHRENIC
Hurriyet, Turkey
Nov 1 2006
Olli Rehn, the EU Commissioner for Expansion, has characterized EU
relations with Ankara as "schizophrenic" in an interview with the
French newspaper Liberation. While asserting that he was against
the freezing of talks with Ankara, Rehn did underscore some of the
difficulties in Turkey's quest for EU accession, pointing to issues
such as freedom of expression and freedom of religion as being areas
where reforms had to continue. Rehn did also stress the need for
"fairness" towards Turkey from the EU, saying "The union must come
through on its promises."
He then went on to say: "Our relations with Turkey are schizophrenic.
In the EU we downgrade strategic importance, while in Turkey, to the
contrary, it is so upgraded in terms of importance that it is thought
there that greater tolerance can be brought about on the subject of
criteria for membership. But it won't be that way."
Cyprus ports: The key autumn issue
Rehn characterized the issue of opening up air and sea ports to
Southern Cyprus as "the key issue of the fall" in his Liberation
interview, applauding Finland for its efforts to find a solution.
Rehn: Military in Turkey needs to be under clear control of civilian
gov. Rehn also focused on the role of the military in Turkish civilian
and political life, noting there while great steps had been taken in
terms of the democratization of the role of the military's role, there
was much more to be reformed. He said "I respect the authority of the
Turkish military within the framework of the defense area, however
the military must also clearly be under the authority and control
of the civilian administration." When reminded in the interview that
the military in Turkey was the guarantor of secularity and democracy,
Rehn said "The EU does not want to abet the Islamicists in Turkey. I
can guarantee you this." He then recalled that past efforts by the
Turkish military to interfere in and prevent the spread of Islamic
schools in Turkey had failed.
In response to Liberation-posed question about the so-called Armenian
genocide, Rehn noted that while recognition of the Armenian genocide
was not a pre-condition for membership in the EU, that peace of one
of the founding values of Europe.
Hurriyet, Turkey
Nov 1 2006
Olli Rehn, the EU Commissioner for Expansion, has characterized EU
relations with Ankara as "schizophrenic" in an interview with the
French newspaper Liberation. While asserting that he was against
the freezing of talks with Ankara, Rehn did underscore some of the
difficulties in Turkey's quest for EU accession, pointing to issues
such as freedom of expression and freedom of religion as being areas
where reforms had to continue. Rehn did also stress the need for
"fairness" towards Turkey from the EU, saying "The union must come
through on its promises."
He then went on to say: "Our relations with Turkey are schizophrenic.
In the EU we downgrade strategic importance, while in Turkey, to the
contrary, it is so upgraded in terms of importance that it is thought
there that greater tolerance can be brought about on the subject of
criteria for membership. But it won't be that way."
Cyprus ports: The key autumn issue
Rehn characterized the issue of opening up air and sea ports to
Southern Cyprus as "the key issue of the fall" in his Liberation
interview, applauding Finland for its efforts to find a solution.
Rehn: Military in Turkey needs to be under clear control of civilian
gov. Rehn also focused on the role of the military in Turkish civilian
and political life, noting there while great steps had been taken in
terms of the democratization of the role of the military's role, there
was much more to be reformed. He said "I respect the authority of the
Turkish military within the framework of the defense area, however
the military must also clearly be under the authority and control
of the civilian administration." When reminded in the interview that
the military in Turkey was the guarantor of secularity and democracy,
Rehn said "The EU does not want to abet the Islamicists in Turkey. I
can guarantee you this." He then recalled that past efforts by the
Turkish military to interfere in and prevent the spread of Islamic
schools in Turkey had failed.
In response to Liberation-posed question about the so-called Armenian
genocide, Rehn noted that while recognition of the Armenian genocide
was not a pre-condition for membership in the EU, that peace of one
of the founding values of Europe.