Tweet
Turkish Daily News, Turkey
Nov 26 2008
MORE EU CONCERNS TO TURKISH MEMBERSHIP
Concerns have been raised by the head of a joint Turkish-European
committee over the closure case recently opened against the countrys
pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party, or DTP, and the governments
policy regarding the Kurdish issue
The head of the Turkish-European Union Joint Parliamentary Committee,
Joost Lagendijk yesterday met with the leader of the DTP, Ahmet Turk,
in Parliament. Turk claimed if the party was closed by the court, his
party would vacate its seats in Parliament. Lagendijk told him the
committee were following the developments with concern, the Hurriyet
Daily News learned.
A public prosecutor launched proceedings several months ago to shut
down the DTP on claims the party has become a center of activities
aimed at damaging the independence of the state and the indivisible
integrity of its territory.
"If our party is closed down the bridge will collapse. In that case,
we are seriously considering abandoning Parliament," Turk told
Lagendijk.
During the meeting, Turk argued that the governments approach toward
the Kurdish problem was "nationalist" and "chauvinistic," saying that
the "love it or leave it" rhetoric of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan further escalated the tension. For his part, Lagendijk said,
"We are following this process with concern. Well talk with him."
Lagendijk said they had the same sensitivity over the closure case
filed against the DTP as the recent one against the ruling Justice and
Development Party, or AKP, adding he would share his views during a
meeting with the prime minister and president. He also extended
support to the strengthening of local administrations pointed out in
the political document of the DTP
Lagendijk later met with the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party,
or MHP, Devlet Bahceli, who complained the EU never spoke of the
positive steps taken by Turkey. Lagendijk answered the EU considered
the amendment to Article 301 of the Turkish penal code as well as the
governments opening to Armenia as positive steps, something which was
not agreed to by the MHP, learned the Daily News
[HH] No chapters left
Meanwhile, an official from Turkeys EU-Secretariat General told
business daily Referans that no policy areas or chapters were left, in
response to a warning from an EU official that no chapters would be
opened with Ankara in 2009 if the reforms stalled.
"Turkey is not satisfied with the EUs performance. We are working on
meeting the opening benchmarks in the areas of taxation, social
policy, competition and environment. We have an action plan for each
and every opening and closing criteria. But the number of chapters
that can be opened to negotiations has drastically dropped due to
political hurdles," said the official, who declined to be named.
Brussels suspended eight out of 35 chapters due to Turkeys refusal to
open its sea and air ports to Greek Cyprus. France opposes the opening
of five chapters on the assumption they would guarantee eventual
membership.
"The number of chapters to be opened has been decreased by the EU. No
chapter has been left due to the Cyprus row and French position," said
the official, adding that they shared such concerns with visiting
members of the European Parliament.
The other obstacle, according to the same official, is that the EU has
not yet sent to Turkey the screening reports of 10 chapters that need
to be opened to talks. Turkish officials expect the start of
negotiations in the areas of free movement of capital and information
society and media, pinning their hopes on the next presidency of the
EU, the Czech Republic.
Nov 26 2008
MORE EU CONCERNS TO TURKISH MEMBERSHIP
Concerns have been raised by the head of a joint Turkish-European
committee over the closure case recently opened against the countrys
pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party, or DTP, and the governments
policy regarding the Kurdish issue
The head of the Turkish-European Union Joint Parliamentary Committee,
Joost Lagendijk yesterday met with the leader of the DTP, Ahmet Turk,
in Parliament. Turk claimed if the party was closed by the court, his
party would vacate its seats in Parliament. Lagendijk told him the
committee were following the developments with concern, the Hurriyet
Daily News learned.
A public prosecutor launched proceedings several months ago to shut
down the DTP on claims the party has become a center of activities
aimed at damaging the independence of the state and the indivisible
integrity of its territory.
"If our party is closed down the bridge will collapse. In that case,
we are seriously considering abandoning Parliament," Turk told
Lagendijk.
During the meeting, Turk argued that the governments approach toward
the Kurdish problem was "nationalist" and "chauvinistic," saying that
the "love it or leave it" rhetoric of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan further escalated the tension. For his part, Lagendijk said,
"We are following this process with concern. Well talk with him."
Lagendijk said they had the same sensitivity over the closure case
filed against the DTP as the recent one against the ruling Justice and
Development Party, or AKP, adding he would share his views during a
meeting with the prime minister and president. He also extended
support to the strengthening of local administrations pointed out in
the political document of the DTP
Lagendijk later met with the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party,
or MHP, Devlet Bahceli, who complained the EU never spoke of the
positive steps taken by Turkey. Lagendijk answered the EU considered
the amendment to Article 301 of the Turkish penal code as well as the
governments opening to Armenia as positive steps, something which was
not agreed to by the MHP, learned the Daily News
[HH] No chapters left
Meanwhile, an official from Turkeys EU-Secretariat General told
business daily Referans that no policy areas or chapters were left, in
response to a warning from an EU official that no chapters would be
opened with Ankara in 2009 if the reforms stalled.
"Turkey is not satisfied with the EUs performance. We are working on
meeting the opening benchmarks in the areas of taxation, social
policy, competition and environment. We have an action plan for each
and every opening and closing criteria. But the number of chapters
that can be opened to negotiations has drastically dropped due to
political hurdles," said the official, who declined to be named.
Brussels suspended eight out of 35 chapters due to Turkeys refusal to
open its sea and air ports to Greek Cyprus. France opposes the opening
of five chapters on the assumption they would guarantee eventual
membership.
"The number of chapters to be opened has been decreased by the EU. No
chapter has been left due to the Cyprus row and French position," said
the official, adding that they shared such concerns with visiting
members of the European Parliament.
The other obstacle, according to the same official, is that the EU has
not yet sent to Turkey the screening reports of 10 chapters that need
to be opened to talks. Turkish officials expect the start of
negotiations in the areas of free movement of capital and information
society and media, pinning their hopes on the next presidency of the
EU, the Czech Republic.