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REFORM NECESSARY FOR TURKEY REGARDLESS OF EU NEGOTIATIONS PACE
PanARMENIAN.Net
31.03.2008 17:55 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A delegation of 15 members of parliament from 10
different countries led by Tchetin Kazak (Bulgaria), Chairman of
the Subcommittee on Democratic Governance of the NATO Parliamentary
Assembly's Committee on the Civil Dimension of Security visited
Ankara and Istanbul, Turkey on 24-27 March 2008, NATO press office
told PanARMENIAN.Net.
In meetings with government and parliament representatives, EU
officials and independent experts, they discussed some of the main
issues on Turkey's domestic and foreign policy agenda, including the EU
accession process, Turkey's regional ambitions, secularism in Turkey,
the Kurdish issue, and the fight against terrorism,
Turkey's accession process to the European Union featured prominently
in the discussions. Turkish officials regretted the delays in the
negotiations, claiming that the official reasons put forward by the EU
were mere excuses, hiding the opposition of certain European leaders
to Turkey's membership aspirations, a position which they denounced
as short-sighted and in contradiction with earlier commitments made
by the EU to Turkey. Officials clearly rejected any suggestion of a
privileged partnership in lieu of membership.
Additionally, they pointed out that the EU's hesitations risked
alienating the population's support for Turkey's membership in the EU.
Officials regretted the suspension of negotiations over 6 chapters
due to Turkey's refusal to open its ports and airports to Cypriot
ship and aircraft, and denounced the contradictions of the EU's
approach towards the Cyprus issue. They stressed that it was the Greek
Cypriots who rejected the EU-backed Annan peace plan, while Turkey
had played a constructive role, courageously convincing the leaders
of the Turkish part to support the plan. They also emphasized that
the EU had not fulfilled its part of the deal and still refused to
open trade relations with the Turkish-Cypriot authorities. In this
context, Turkey found it difficult to offer more concessions at this
point. Nevertheless, officials expressed renewed hope for an early
settlement of this issue following the recent leadership change in
the Republic of Cyprus.
Parliament and government officials reaffirmed Turkey's unwavering
commitment to reform, which they emphasized is necessary for
Turkey regardless of the pace of EU negotiations. Both officials and
independent experts also stressed that Turkey's geostrategic position
as a bridge to Eurasia and the Middle East should be regarded as a
major asset for the EU. Turkey considers its relations with Europe on
the one hand and with its neighbors to the East and to the South on
the other, as complementary and mutually reinforcing; each of these
enhances the attractiveness of Turkey for the other.
Hilmi Guler, Turkey's Minister of Energy, also emphasized Turkey's
ambition to become a major energy hub and presented plans to develop
existing East-West and North-South corridors. He was convinced that
with these new energy routes, Turkey could greatly contribute to
enhancing Europe's energy security
The visit came at a challenging moment in Turkey's political life,
amidst evidence of an ongoing struggle between supporters of the
ruling AKP party and secularist forces. The latest signs of this
struggle included tensions surrounding the election of Abdullah Gul to
the Presidency in 2007, the controversy connected with a decision to
lift the ban on headscarves in universities, and legal action aiming
to ban the AKP and bar its main leaders from political activities.
Asked about the potential outcome of this legal action, Mustafa Aydin,
professor at TOBB University, explained that the problem was not with
the judges, but with the law, which provided tools for the judiciary
to take action against political parties.
Amendments to the constitution were now being considered in order to
prevent any similar move in the future, which would further damage
Turkey's democratic development.
Another major domestic challenge relates to the situation of
Turkey's Kurdish population. Journalist Cengiz Candar explained to
the delegation that this was an extremely sensitive issue in Turkey,
where the existence of a "Kurdish issue" as such has never been
officially acknowledged
Rather, the focus has been on promoting economic development in
Turkey's Southeast and on fighting PKK terrorism. In contrast, Mr
Candar argued that terrorism is only a by-product of the Kurdish
question, and resolving this question would isolate the PKK and
undermine its support base. According to Mr Candar, the creation of an
autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq, while it could not serve as a direct
model for Turkey, should prompt the current government to consider ways
to address the political claims of Turkey's Kurdish population. One
way would be to engage with the Iraqi province of Kurdistan. Such a
gesture would send a positive message to Turkey's Kurdish population,
amounting to a de facto acknowledgement of the Kurdish identity. Mr
Candar also suggested that, having received a strong mandate from the
population in the 2007 elections, the government should deliver on
its promise of a democratic and civilian constitution, and, in this
context, promote a new definition of citizenship.
While federalism is not an option for Turkey, the government should
also consider measures granting greater self-government powers at
the municipal level.
Commenting on Turkey's recent military intervention in Northern Iraq
against the PKK, several speakers emphasized that the stability of
Iraq is of prime concern for Turkey. While pointing out that many
areas in Northern Iraq remain outside the control of federal or
even regional authorities, they generally welcomed recent signs of a
deepening co-operation with Iraq, as well as with the United States,
in combating PKK terrorists based in Northern Iraq.
Government officials confirmed that the fight against terrorism is one
of Turkey's main priorities at home and abroad. Deputy Prime Minister
Cicek explained to the delegation that terrorism remains a serious
threat for Turkey. Efforts focus in particular on the PKK, whose
actions, according to one official, have claimed the lives of some
35,000 people of various nationalities, ethnicity and belief in the
past 25 years. Mr Cicek called for greater international co-operation
in the fight against terrorism, regretting the inconsistencies
exhibited by some of Turkey's allies in their approach to this issue,
which, in some cases, has undermined Turkey's own efforts. He denounced
in particular the improper or incomplete application of the principle
"prosecute or return" and the safe haven provided to known terrorists -
including members of the PKK - in some European countries.
PanARMENIAN.Net
31.03.2008 17:55 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A delegation of 15 members of parliament from 10
different countries led by Tchetin Kazak (Bulgaria), Chairman of
the Subcommittee on Democratic Governance of the NATO Parliamentary
Assembly's Committee on the Civil Dimension of Security visited
Ankara and Istanbul, Turkey on 24-27 March 2008, NATO press office
told PanARMENIAN.Net.
In meetings with government and parliament representatives, EU
officials and independent experts, they discussed some of the main
issues on Turkey's domestic and foreign policy agenda, including the EU
accession process, Turkey's regional ambitions, secularism in Turkey,
the Kurdish issue, and the fight against terrorism,
Turkey's accession process to the European Union featured prominently
in the discussions. Turkish officials regretted the delays in the
negotiations, claiming that the official reasons put forward by the EU
were mere excuses, hiding the opposition of certain European leaders
to Turkey's membership aspirations, a position which they denounced
as short-sighted and in contradiction with earlier commitments made
by the EU to Turkey. Officials clearly rejected any suggestion of a
privileged partnership in lieu of membership.
Additionally, they pointed out that the EU's hesitations risked
alienating the population's support for Turkey's membership in the EU.
Officials regretted the suspension of negotiations over 6 chapters
due to Turkey's refusal to open its ports and airports to Cypriot
ship and aircraft, and denounced the contradictions of the EU's
approach towards the Cyprus issue. They stressed that it was the Greek
Cypriots who rejected the EU-backed Annan peace plan, while Turkey
had played a constructive role, courageously convincing the leaders
of the Turkish part to support the plan. They also emphasized that
the EU had not fulfilled its part of the deal and still refused to
open trade relations with the Turkish-Cypriot authorities. In this
context, Turkey found it difficult to offer more concessions at this
point. Nevertheless, officials expressed renewed hope for an early
settlement of this issue following the recent leadership change in
the Republic of Cyprus.
Parliament and government officials reaffirmed Turkey's unwavering
commitment to reform, which they emphasized is necessary for
Turkey regardless of the pace of EU negotiations. Both officials and
independent experts also stressed that Turkey's geostrategic position
as a bridge to Eurasia and the Middle East should be regarded as a
major asset for the EU. Turkey considers its relations with Europe on
the one hand and with its neighbors to the East and to the South on
the other, as complementary and mutually reinforcing; each of these
enhances the attractiveness of Turkey for the other.
Hilmi Guler, Turkey's Minister of Energy, also emphasized Turkey's
ambition to become a major energy hub and presented plans to develop
existing East-West and North-South corridors. He was convinced that
with these new energy routes, Turkey could greatly contribute to
enhancing Europe's energy security
The visit came at a challenging moment in Turkey's political life,
amidst evidence of an ongoing struggle between supporters of the
ruling AKP party and secularist forces. The latest signs of this
struggle included tensions surrounding the election of Abdullah Gul to
the Presidency in 2007, the controversy connected with a decision to
lift the ban on headscarves in universities, and legal action aiming
to ban the AKP and bar its main leaders from political activities.
Asked about the potential outcome of this legal action, Mustafa Aydin,
professor at TOBB University, explained that the problem was not with
the judges, but with the law, which provided tools for the judiciary
to take action against political parties.
Amendments to the constitution were now being considered in order to
prevent any similar move in the future, which would further damage
Turkey's democratic development.
Another major domestic challenge relates to the situation of
Turkey's Kurdish population. Journalist Cengiz Candar explained to
the delegation that this was an extremely sensitive issue in Turkey,
where the existence of a "Kurdish issue" as such has never been
officially acknowledged
Rather, the focus has been on promoting economic development in
Turkey's Southeast and on fighting PKK terrorism. In contrast, Mr
Candar argued that terrorism is only a by-product of the Kurdish
question, and resolving this question would isolate the PKK and
undermine its support base. According to Mr Candar, the creation of an
autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq, while it could not serve as a direct
model for Turkey, should prompt the current government to consider ways
to address the political claims of Turkey's Kurdish population. One
way would be to engage with the Iraqi province of Kurdistan. Such a
gesture would send a positive message to Turkey's Kurdish population,
amounting to a de facto acknowledgement of the Kurdish identity. Mr
Candar also suggested that, having received a strong mandate from the
population in the 2007 elections, the government should deliver on
its promise of a democratic and civilian constitution, and, in this
context, promote a new definition of citizenship.
While federalism is not an option for Turkey, the government should
also consider measures granting greater self-government powers at
the municipal level.
Commenting on Turkey's recent military intervention in Northern Iraq
against the PKK, several speakers emphasized that the stability of
Iraq is of prime concern for Turkey. While pointing out that many
areas in Northern Iraq remain outside the control of federal or
even regional authorities, they generally welcomed recent signs of a
deepening co-operation with Iraq, as well as with the United States,
in combating PKK terrorists based in Northern Iraq.
Government officials confirmed that the fight against terrorism is one
of Turkey's main priorities at home and abroad. Deputy Prime Minister
Cicek explained to the delegation that terrorism remains a serious
threat for Turkey. Efforts focus in particular on the PKK, whose
actions, according to one official, have claimed the lives of some
35,000 people of various nationalities, ethnicity and belief in the
past 25 years. Mr Cicek called for greater international co-operation
in the fight against terrorism, regretting the inconsistencies
exhibited by some of Turkey's allies in their approach to this issue,
which, in some cases, has undermined Turkey's own efforts. He denounced
in particular the improper or incomplete application of the principle
"prosecute or return" and the safe haven provided to known terrorists -
including members of the PKK - in some European countries.