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FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER URGES TURKEY TO ADVANCE EU ACCESSION THROUGH FURTHER REFORMS
BYLINE: Lilit Gevorgyan
Global Insight
October 13, 2010
French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner during bilateral talks
with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on 12 October urged
the Turkish government to continue with its reforms to facilitate
the country's protracted accession talks with the European Union
(EU). The French diplomat said that the ball was in Turkey's court,
and suggested that the Turkish government open three more chapters
for negotiations. According to the French foreign minister, Turkey is
ready to launch talks on issues of competition by the end of 2010,
as well as on social policy and employment in 2011. Kouchner added
that given Turkey's progress on reforms of the public-procurement
sector, opening and successfully negotiating the relevant chapter
should not pose a problem in the coming months. Conversely, Davutoglu
asked Kouchner for the EU to launch a visa-liberalisation programme
similar to that currently implemented by the EU in the Balkans. The two
parties agreed to continue their efforts in combating the activities
of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, a militant organisation that has
been locked in an armed struggle with the Turkish government over
Kurdish autonomy in south-eastern Turkey since 1984.
Significance:Turkey launched its accession talks with the 27-member
European bloc in October 2005, but since then there has not been much
progress. In 2008, the EU launched talks on intellectual property
and company law, 2 out of the 35 chapters needed to be negotiated
to gain access to the bloc. Although some of the areas just need
a matter of time before they are fully reformed, Turkey still has
to address political issues such as opening its port to Cyprus, an
EU member that is not recognised by Turkey. This issues stems from
Turkey's support for the unrecognised Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus. Furthermore, Turkey has to yet overhaul its constitution or
open its borders with its eastern neighbour Armenia. Conversely,
the country has blamed the EU for delaying the accession of the
73-million-strong, mainly Muslim country into the European bloc
instead offering a privileged partnership, an idea supported by
France and Germany but rejected by Turkey. However, Kouchner was
clear in his message to the Turkish government: to join the bloc,
Turkey has to meet all the necessary preconditions.
From: A. Papazian
BYLINE: Lilit Gevorgyan
Global Insight
October 13, 2010
French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner during bilateral talks
with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on 12 October urged
the Turkish government to continue with its reforms to facilitate
the country's protracted accession talks with the European Union
(EU). The French diplomat said that the ball was in Turkey's court,
and suggested that the Turkish government open three more chapters
for negotiations. According to the French foreign minister, Turkey is
ready to launch talks on issues of competition by the end of 2010,
as well as on social policy and employment in 2011. Kouchner added
that given Turkey's progress on reforms of the public-procurement
sector, opening and successfully negotiating the relevant chapter
should not pose a problem in the coming months. Conversely, Davutoglu
asked Kouchner for the EU to launch a visa-liberalisation programme
similar to that currently implemented by the EU in the Balkans. The two
parties agreed to continue their efforts in combating the activities
of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, a militant organisation that has
been locked in an armed struggle with the Turkish government over
Kurdish autonomy in south-eastern Turkey since 1984.
Significance:Turkey launched its accession talks with the 27-member
European bloc in October 2005, but since then there has not been much
progress. In 2008, the EU launched talks on intellectual property
and company law, 2 out of the 35 chapters needed to be negotiated
to gain access to the bloc. Although some of the areas just need
a matter of time before they are fully reformed, Turkey still has
to address political issues such as opening its port to Cyprus, an
EU member that is not recognised by Turkey. This issues stems from
Turkey's support for the unrecognised Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus. Furthermore, Turkey has to yet overhaul its constitution or
open its borders with its eastern neighbour Armenia. Conversely,
the country has blamed the EU for delaying the accession of the
73-million-strong, mainly Muslim country into the European bloc
instead offering a privileged partnership, an idea supported by
France and Germany but rejected by Turkey. However, Kouchner was
clear in his message to the Turkish government: to join the bloc,
Turkey has to meet all the necessary preconditions.
From: A. Papazian