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ANKARA: Ergenekon Case Key To Turkey's Democratization, Says Rehn

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  • ANKARA: Ergenekon Case Key To Turkey's Democratization, Says Rehn

    ERGENEKON CASE KEY TO TURKEY'S DEMOCRATIZATION, SAYS REHN

    Today's Zaman
    Jan 22 2010
    Turkey

    Olli Rehn addressed a plenary session at the European Parliament in
    Strasbourg on Wednesday.

    The ongoing investigation into Ergenekon, a clandestine organization
    accused of attempting to create chaos and undermine the stability of
    Turkey in order to trigger a coup d'état, is key to democratization
    efforts in the European Union candidate country, a senior EU official
    has stated.

    In 2009, important progress was made in regards to civilian-military
    relations in Turkey, EU's outgoing Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn,
    the nominee for the post of EU commissioner for economic and monetary
    affairs, said late on Wednesday while speaking at a plenary session
    at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

    During the session, titled "Democratization in Turkey," members
    of the European Parliament debated Turkey's democratization process
    particularly following the recent banning of the pro-Kurdish political
    party Democratic Society Party (DTP) by the Constitutional Court
    in December.

    "The ongoing Ergenekon case is the key to democratization efforts in
    Turkey. Turkish citizens really deserve to see the finalization of
    this investigation and they rightfully expect a fair trial for the
    all suspects," Rehn was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency.

    In its annual progress report, made public on Oct. 14, 2009, the
    European Commission referred to the Ergenekon investigation as an
    opportunity for Turkish democracy. "This case is an opportunity for
    Turkey to strengthen confidence in the proper functioning of its
    democratic institutions and the rule of law," the report said.

    The murders of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink and three
    missionaries in Malatya were mentioned in many EU documents and
    referred to in the progress report. "Reports by civil society
    organizations and statements by witnesses, in particular regarding the
    alleged criminal network Ergenekon, the murder of three Protestants
    in Malatya and the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink
    cases, highlighted these concerns in specific cases. As regards the
    latter case in particular, a report from the Prime Ministry Inspection
    Board questioned the security forces' role prior to the murder.

    According to the report, the security forces appeared to refrain from
    taking action after having received credible information about death
    threats against Mr. Dink. The trials in Istanbul, Samsun and Trabzon
    on this murder are continuing, but have not been merged, as has been
    requested by the lawyers representing the family of Mr. Dink," the
    report said.

    According to Rehn, in addition to the Ergenekon issue, citizenship
    rights, reforms in the field of fundamental rights and fair
    representation of women are the core issues concerning Turkey's
    democratization.

    "Freedom of expression in Turkey is not in line with EU standards,"
    Rehn remarked, while underlining that many journalists in Turkey are
    still being tried just for doing their jobs.

    "The time has come and is already passing for Turkey to make necessary
    legal reforms in order to show that this problem belongs to the past,
    not to the future. Freedom of expression, which is fundamentally
    important for an open and democratic society, is also important for
    being able to hold more discussions on sensitive issues in Turkey
    such as the Armenian issue, the Kurdish problem and Cyprus," Rehn
    was quoted as saying.

    While expressing concern over the closure of the DTP, Rehn said he
    expected Turkey to make necessary amendments in its political parties
    law to bring the law in compliance with suggestions by the Council
    of Europe and rulings by the European Court of Human Rights.

    In the eyes of the EU, Turkey can strengthen internal and regional
    stability as long as it becomes more democratic, the commissioner
    said. Calling the Turkish government's democratization initiative,
    which includes expanding rights for the Kurdish population, a very
    important step, Rehn said this step would raise the standard of living
    for all citizens of Turkey.

    Images from the jubilant reception of several members of the outlawed
    Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) returning to Turkey through the
    Habur border gate in October were used by "nationalist forces as
    an opportunity to attack the government," Rehn said, while voicing
    pleasure over the fact that the government declared its determination
    to go ahead with the democratization initiative despite such negative
    attitudes.

    Spanish Secretary of State for EU Affairs Diego Lopez Garrido, whose
    country took over the six-month rotating presidency of the EU from
    Sweden on Jan. 1, also addressed European deputies during Wednesday's
    discussion on Turkey.

    Reiterating Madrid's willingness to open more negotiation chapters
    with Turkey, Garrido cautioned that Turkey has still a lot to do in
    the fields of "judicial reform, fundamental freedoms, freedom of press,
    minority rights, women's rights and labor rights."

    A majority of the European deputies who delivered their opinions
    on Turkey during the discussion focused on the closure of the DTP
    and expressed concern over the detention of mayors of towns in the
    predominantly Kurdish Southeast, Anatolia noted.
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