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EU: PARLIAMENT DISCUSSES CONTROVERSIAL TURKEY REPORT
AKI, Italy
Sept 26 2006
Strasbourg, 26 Sept. (AKI) - A full session of the 732 member European
Parliament is on Tuesday due to discuss a controversial report on
Turkey - an EU candidate country - prepared by Conservative Dutch MEP
Camiel Eurlings. A controversial provision, making recognition of the
killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks during and after World War I
a precondition for Turkey's EU membership, is expected to be removed
from the draft, Turkey's Cihan news agency reported. The parliament
is due to vote on the report on Wednesday.
Tuesday's session - to be attended by EU enlargement commissioner Olli
Rehn - is also expected to make other amendments easing recommendations
on the issue of Turkey's recognition of EU member state Cyprus, Cihan
said. The report warns the Turkish government that its continuing
refusal to allow Greek Cypriot ships and planes to enter its ports and
airspace and implement reforms could stall its membership negotiations
with the European Union.
The report - adopted by the European parliament's influential foreign
affairs committee on 5 September - harshly criticises Turkey for
its slow pace of reform on rights, freedom of expression, and the
role of the security forces. It urged the country to "reinvigorate"
implementation of reforms, especially in the areas of freedom of
expression, women's rights, religious freedom, trade union rights,
torture and ill-treatment of prisoners.
Turkey's foreign ministry criticised the report as "lacking commonsense
and objectivity," and said it would not improve the country's ties
with the EU. After protracted negotiations, Turkey began accession
talks with the EU last October. The talks do not lead automatically
to membership, which in any event is not expected before 2015.
AKI, Italy
Sept 26 2006
Strasbourg, 26 Sept. (AKI) - A full session of the 732 member European
Parliament is on Tuesday due to discuss a controversial report on
Turkey - an EU candidate country - prepared by Conservative Dutch MEP
Camiel Eurlings. A controversial provision, making recognition of the
killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks during and after World War I
a precondition for Turkey's EU membership, is expected to be removed
from the draft, Turkey's Cihan news agency reported. The parliament
is due to vote on the report on Wednesday.
Tuesday's session - to be attended by EU enlargement commissioner Olli
Rehn - is also expected to make other amendments easing recommendations
on the issue of Turkey's recognition of EU member state Cyprus, Cihan
said. The report warns the Turkish government that its continuing
refusal to allow Greek Cypriot ships and planes to enter its ports and
airspace and implement reforms could stall its membership negotiations
with the European Union.
The report - adopted by the European parliament's influential foreign
affairs committee on 5 September - harshly criticises Turkey for
its slow pace of reform on rights, freedom of expression, and the
role of the security forces. It urged the country to "reinvigorate"
implementation of reforms, especially in the areas of freedom of
expression, women's rights, religious freedom, trade union rights,
torture and ill-treatment of prisoners.
Turkey's foreign ministry criticised the report as "lacking commonsense
and objectivity," and said it would not improve the country's ties
with the EU. After protracted negotiations, Turkey began accession
talks with the EU last October. The talks do not lead automatically
to membership, which in any event is not expected before 2015.