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ANKARA: EU Reforms Are The Best Remedy For Post-Case Era

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  • ANKARA: EU Reforms Are The Best Remedy For Post-Case Era

    EU REFORMS ARE THE BEST REMEDY FOR POST-CASE ERA

    Turkish Daily News
    Aug 4 2008

    President Abdullah Gul urged the ruling Justice and Development Party,
    or AKP, to revive the reform process aimed at aligning the country
    with the democratic norms of the European Union, days after the party
    narrowly escaped closure by the top court.

    "Integration with the EU is state policy and a strategic decision. But
    it cannot run at an idle speed. [The process] should be hastened,"
    Gul said in an interview with Hasan Cemal, a columnist from daily
    Milliyet, over the weekend.

    Turkey wasted nearly two years with domestic political turmoil, which
    caused a dramatic slowdown in full membership negotiations with the EU.

    "We should take on the EU target with determination. The reform
    process cannot be in tatters. There is a need to focus Turkey on
    the EU target and put it in a comprehensive reform process. A reform
    campaign should be launched," Gul told Milliyet.

    A former AKP foreign minister, Gul underlined the need for the
    contribution of all political parties, nongovernmental organizations
    and other important actors of society. "Everybody mentions the same
    things, like democracy, the rule of law and freedoms. But when it
    comes to meeting the EU criteria and their implementation, some of
    them wriggle out ... That's why a whole reform campaign is a must,"
    he explained.

    Initiative in Cyprus talks

    On the subject of the Cyprus talks, Gul was clear that the government
    should continue to take the lead in encouraging Turkish and Greek
    Cypriots to reach a compromise for a lasting and fair solution. "We
    should avoid accumulating problems. We will surely not sacrifice our
    interests, but instead of defending the status quo, the right thing to
    do is to take initiatives for a settlement just as in 2004," he said.

    Cyprus is one of the most important problems Turkey faces on its way
    to the EU. Eight negotiation chapters out of 35 were suspended by
    the EU Commission in 2006 when Turkey refused to open its ports and
    airports to Greek Cypriot ships and aircraft.

    A new peace process was launched between the parties in late July,
    and direct talks will be resumed Sept. 5.

    Gul going to Yerevan?

    Speaking on another foreign policy dossier, which includes a potential
    landmark visit by the president to Yerevan for a national football
    match between Turkey and Armenia, Gul did not disclose his decision
    whether to go to the neighboring country.

    "We are evaluating this," Gul said, in a separate interview with daily
    Sabah over the weekend. "We have no feelings of hostility toward
    Armenia ... but the problems cannot be settled just by Turkey's
    efforts. They also have responsibilities," Gul said.

    According to the president, a peaceful solution to the problem requires
    an overall recognition of the territorial integrity of each country
    in the region, alluding to Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijan's
    territories since the mid-90s.

    Time to engage in self-criticism

    In his interview with daily Milliyet, the president also touched
    on the recent ruling of the top court on the closure case and gave
    recommendations to all political actors.

    "Everybody, all of us, needs to engage in self-criticism and show
    empathy to others ... The country is tired," Gul underlined. But
    "while cooling down, we must not forget that there are fences to be
    mended," he added. Gul, a former AKP member who is now neutral by law,
    said Turkey's secular democratic system was deep-rooted but called
    for more efforts to heal political divisions. "No one must interfere
    in the lifestyle of others ... We can eradicate the existing concerns
    together," he said.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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