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ANKARA: E.P. Adopts Turkey Report, Calling Turkey To Accelerate Refo

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  • ANKARA: E.P. Adopts Turkey Report, Calling Turkey To Accelerate Refo

    E.P. ADOPTS TURKEY REPORT, CALLING TURKEY TO ACCELERATE REFORMS

    Turkish Press
    Sept 27 2006

    STRASBOURG - European Parliament on Wednesday approved Turkey report
    which was prepared by Dutch parliamentarian Camiel Eurlings.

    During voting of the report, 429 parliamentarians voted positive
    against 71 parliamentarians, and 125 parliamentarians abstained.

    The report, which is not binding but recommendatory, calls Turkey to
    accelerate reforms on the path to EU membership.

    The report wants Turkey to speed up reforms and implementations
    especially on freedom of expression, religious rights, minority
    rights, civilian-soldier relations, women rights, labor unions,
    cultural rights and independence of jurisdiction areas.

    Expressing pleasure over Turkish government's preparing the 9th
    reform package, the report recommended the new anti-terrorism law
    not to include restrictive elements against basic rights and freedom.

    The report called Turkey to amend articles 216, 277, 288, 301, 305
    and 318 of Turkish Penal Code (TCK) claiming that they are open to
    arbitrary interpretation.

    The report also strongly condemned PKK terrorist organization.

    Noting that discharge of Van Public Prosecutor Ferhat Sarikaya from
    his post was concerning, the report claimed that developments after
    Semdinli incidents showed that the role of army continues in Turkish
    society.

    The report asks Turkey to drop 10 percent election threshold, and
    thus, a broader representation, including Kurdish parties, will be
    provided at Turkish Parliament.

    Noting that a new constitution may be needed to reflect the reforms
    on the path to EU membership, the report also condemned attack on
    Council of State.

    Expressing regret that Turkey could not record a progress in religious
    freedom area since the last report of EP, the report calls Turkey to
    overcome problems in education of clerics of minorities as well as
    their owning properties.

    Condemning the attacks of PKK terrorist organization, the report
    stressed that EP is in solidarity with Turkey in fight against
    terrorism.

    The report calls Turkey to abolish village guard system, to find
    democratic solution to Kurdish problem and to apply European standards
    in custody and arrests.

    The report noted that modern, democratic and secular Turkey can
    undertake a constructive role in dialogue among civilizations. It
    also asked Turkey to take necessary steps and swiftly open border gate
    with Armenia to start diplomatic and good neighborhood relations with
    this country.

    The report also wanted Turkey to open its ports to Greek Cypriot
    vessels, stating that Turkey's recognition of all EU countries
    including Greek Cypriot administration is a compulsory part of EU
    negotiation process.
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