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THERE HAS BEEN OBSERVED THE SECOND WIND IN TURKEY'S INTEGRATION TO THE EUROPEAN UNION
ArmInfo
2009-04-17 10:48:00
There has been observed the second wind in Turkey's integration to
the European Union, Chairman of EU-Turkey Delegation in European
Parliament Joost Lagendijk said.
"A new feeling of optimism has been observed in EU," Lagendijk told
Trend News over phone from Brussels. A slowdown in the reforms in
2005 -2008 was changed with Turkey's positive steps. This increased
the EU optimism. Lagendijk voiced five main steps, which allowed to
look fresh at Turkey's integration. One of the steps is the visit of
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and head of the leading
opposition party - Republican People's Party Deniz Baikal to Brussels
in early of the year. During the visit Erdogan and Baikal explained
that the EU is still top priority for Turkey rkey, Lagendijk said.
Another important issue was called appointment of Egemen Bakish as
chief negotiator in the negotiations between Turkey and EU ON Turkey's
accession to EU, the nomination that is seen very positively inside
the EU. Thirdly, the TRT6 Kurdish language national television, which
is seen as an important step forward to solve the Kurdish issue,
was opened. A radio and TRT 6 Kurdish language national television
were opened in Turkey in 2008 and January 2009 respectively. The
channel is broadcasting not only in Turkey, but also in Iraq, Iran
and Syria. Fourthly, the talks between Turkey and Armenia are seen
from a very positive in restoring diplomatic relations and opening
of borders, which will help not only to Turkey's accession to EU,
but also resolution to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed since 1993 due to Armenia's
claims of an alleged genocide, and the country's occupation of
20 percent of Azerbaijani lands. Turkish President Abdullah Gul
visited Yerevan on Sept. 6, 2008 upon the invitation of his Armenian
counterpart Serzh Sarkisyan to watch an Armenia-Turkey football
match. Efforts have been made to normalize ties between the two
countries ever since. The fifth point is the fact that there
are ongoing talks between the Turkish government and the Alawi
leadership. Alawi is the largest religious minority in Turkey,
constituting about 20 percent of the population. The Turkish
authorities still prefer to ignore their existence: Alawi community
has no official status. The issue of ending discrimination against
Alawis and the protection of their rights and freedoms included in
the criteria for the accession of Turkey to the EU.
The talks on Turkey's accession to the EU were launched in
2005. According to experts, Turkey will become the EU full member
within 1-15 years. The main obstacle on Turkey's way is territorial
disputes with the Greek Cyprus, which occurred as a result of division
of the island into two parts in 1974. If Turkey to be accessed to the
EU, it will expand the EU market and grant qualified working force
to European companies, which suffer of ageing aboriginal population.
ArmInfo
2009-04-17 10:48:00
There has been observed the second wind in Turkey's integration to
the European Union, Chairman of EU-Turkey Delegation in European
Parliament Joost Lagendijk said.
"A new feeling of optimism has been observed in EU," Lagendijk told
Trend News over phone from Brussels. A slowdown in the reforms in
2005 -2008 was changed with Turkey's positive steps. This increased
the EU optimism. Lagendijk voiced five main steps, which allowed to
look fresh at Turkey's integration. One of the steps is the visit of
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and head of the leading
opposition party - Republican People's Party Deniz Baikal to Brussels
in early of the year. During the visit Erdogan and Baikal explained
that the EU is still top priority for Turkey rkey, Lagendijk said.
Another important issue was called appointment of Egemen Bakish as
chief negotiator in the negotiations between Turkey and EU ON Turkey's
accession to EU, the nomination that is seen very positively inside
the EU. Thirdly, the TRT6 Kurdish language national television, which
is seen as an important step forward to solve the Kurdish issue,
was opened. A radio and TRT 6 Kurdish language national television
were opened in Turkey in 2008 and January 2009 respectively. The
channel is broadcasting not only in Turkey, but also in Iraq, Iran
and Syria. Fourthly, the talks between Turkey and Armenia are seen
from a very positive in restoring diplomatic relations and opening
of borders, which will help not only to Turkey's accession to EU,
but also resolution to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed since 1993 due to Armenia's
claims of an alleged genocide, and the country's occupation of
20 percent of Azerbaijani lands. Turkish President Abdullah Gul
visited Yerevan on Sept. 6, 2008 upon the invitation of his Armenian
counterpart Serzh Sarkisyan to watch an Armenia-Turkey football
match. Efforts have been made to normalize ties between the two
countries ever since. The fifth point is the fact that there
are ongoing talks between the Turkish government and the Alawi
leadership. Alawi is the largest religious minority in Turkey,
constituting about 20 percent of the population. The Turkish
authorities still prefer to ignore their existence: Alawi community
has no official status. The issue of ending discrimination against
Alawis and the protection of their rights and freedoms included in
the criteria for the accession of Turkey to the EU.
The talks on Turkey's accession to the EU were launched in
2005. According to experts, Turkey will become the EU full member
within 1-15 years. The main obstacle on Turkey's way is territorial
disputes with the Greek Cyprus, which occurred as a result of division
of the island into two parts in 1974. If Turkey to be accessed to the
EU, it will expand the EU market and grant qualified working force
to European companies, which suffer of ageing aboriginal population.