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OLLI REHN: NEXT YEAR SHOULD BE THE YEAR OF SETTLEMENT IN CYPRUS
PanARMENIAN.Net
22.12.2008 13:32 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Turkey must overcome internal divisions and get back
to long-delayed reforms early next year to show it is serious about
wanting to join the European Union", the bloc's enlargement chief said.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said he expected more Balkan
countries to apply for EU membership following Montenegro's move
earlier this month, but urged them not to rush in because they must
first show a track record of reforms.
"Next year should also be the year of a settlement in Cyprus," Rehn
said. "Next year will be an important litmus test of whether Turkey
is serious about its EU accession perspective."
"After one or two years of domestic difficulties, we would expect
Turkey now to put up a new gear and seriously start to pursue the
reforms again," he said.
Turkey narrowly avoided a crisis this year over a public prosecutor's
attempt to have the Constitutional Court ban the ruling AK Party.
"There is too much energy used on internal tensions which could be
used for pursuing legal and economic reforms that are required for
EU membership."
Rehn urged Turkey to get to business quickly. "The sooner the better,
but at the latest after the March (local) elections, Turkey should
totally resume the reforms again," he said, Reuters reports.
PanARMENIAN.Net
22.12.2008 13:32 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Turkey must overcome internal divisions and get back
to long-delayed reforms early next year to show it is serious about
wanting to join the European Union", the bloc's enlargement chief said.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said he expected more Balkan
countries to apply for EU membership following Montenegro's move
earlier this month, but urged them not to rush in because they must
first show a track record of reforms.
"Next year should also be the year of a settlement in Cyprus," Rehn
said. "Next year will be an important litmus test of whether Turkey
is serious about its EU accession perspective."
"After one or two years of domestic difficulties, we would expect
Turkey now to put up a new gear and seriously start to pursue the
reforms again," he said.
Turkey narrowly avoided a crisis this year over a public prosecutor's
attempt to have the Constitutional Court ban the ruling AK Party.
"There is too much energy used on internal tensions which could be
used for pursuing legal and economic reforms that are required for
EU membership."
Rehn urged Turkey to get to business quickly. "The sooner the better,
but at the latest after the March (local) elections, Turkey should
totally resume the reforms again," he said, Reuters reports.