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European Policymakers To Release A Report "Turkey In Europe: Breakin

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  • European Policymakers To Release A Report "Turkey In Europe: Breakin

    EUROPEAN POLICYMAKERS TO RELEASE A REPORT "TURKEY IN EUROPE: BREAKING THE VICIOUS CIRCLE"

    PanARMENIAN.Net
    08.09.2009 01:31 GMT+04:00

    /PanARMENIAN.Net/ A group of distinguished European policymakers have
    pointed to both domestic circles aiming to topple the government and
    certain European Union member nations that object to Turkey's full EU
    membership as being responsible for a "vicious circle" in relations
    between the EU and EU-candidate Turkey, TurrkishNY reports.

    The Independent Commission on Turkey is made up of former heads of
    state and government, foreign ministers and European commissioners
    and other Europeans who have previously held high positions in public
    office. The commission aims to examine the challenges and opportunities
    presented by Turkey's possible membership in the EU. Martti Ahtisaari,
    former president of Finland, is the chairman of the commission, and
    Albert Rohan, Austria's former secretary-general of foreign affairs,
    is rapporteur. The group is scheduled to release a report titled
    "Turkey in Europe: Breaking the Vicious Circle" in Brussels today. The
    commission calls on European governments to stand behind promises made
    to Turkey by acting fairly vis-a-vis Turkey's membership process,
    while urging the Turkish government to revive the reform process,
    including the prospect of drafting a new constitution that would
    expand freedoms and rights.

    "Plans for toppling the government, the court case opened for closing
    down the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the
    military's open threat to intervene in politics," are listed in the
    report as internal reasons leading to a slowdown in the reform process
    related to the EU membership drive.

    The Independent Commission on Turkey refutes claims that Turkey faces
    a threat against its secular system, noting that no political elements
    argue for the establishment of a state based on Islamic principles. A
    strong connection with the EU would be the best protection for the
    secular system in Turkey, it adds.
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