Tweet
Today's Zaman, Turkey
Oct 30 2010
EU to call for new civilian constitution in Turkey strategy
The European Union is preparing to praise a set of amendments recently
made to Turkey's military-drafted Constitution but will reiterate its
call for a new civilian constitution, saying it is needed to
strengthen democracy in the candidate country.
`The constitutional amendments are an important step in the right
direction,' the European Commission is expected to say in a document
outlining the 27-nation bloc's enlargement strategy.
`A new civilian constitution would provide a solid base for a further
strengthening of democracy in Turkey, in line with European standards
and the EU accession criteria,' the document, a copy of which was seen
by Today's Zaman, reads. It is due to be released on Nov. 9 along with
an annual progress report that thoroughly assesses Turkey's efforts to
meet the EU's accession criteria. It will also call for `broad public
consultation involving all political parties and civil society' so as
to strengthen support for constitutional reform and `proper
implementation' of the reforms passed through relevant legislation.
The current Constitution, drafted during military rule in 1982,
underwent significant reform when voters approved a government-backed
package of amendments during a referendum on Sept. 12. The changes
further curtail powers of the military by limiting the authority of
military courts and ending constitutional immunity from prosecution
for leaders of the 1980 coup; reform the Supreme Board of Judges and
Prosecutors (HSYK), which appoints senior judicial figures; and
overhaul the Constitutional Court by allowing the president and
Parliament to elect all members. The changes, which critics had
claimed would establish government control over the judiciary, was
approved by 58 percent of the voters, while 42 percent voted against.
The EU, which has long called for judicial reform, is expected to
welcome the changes as advancing Turkey's reform efforts. The draft of
the strategy document says the reforms `address a number of priorities
in the areas of judiciary and fundamental rights.' According to the
document, changes made to the structure of the HSYK make the top
judicial body `more representative of the judiciary as a whole.'
Under the changes, the number of HSYK members rose from seven to 21.
Thousands of judges and prosecutors voted in elections earlier this
month to elect 10 members to the HSYK. In remarks earlier this week,
Stefan Füle, the EU's enlargement commissioner, welcomed the election
of new HSYK members by direct vote of judges and prosecutors.
Shortcomings in freedoms
Turkey, a candidate to join the EU since 1999, opened accession talks
with the bloc in 2005 but little progress has been achieved since then
due to the continued division of Cyprus and growing opposition to
Turkey's membership in many European countries. The EU also complains
that the pace of reforms in Turkey is slow.
Highlighting deficiencies in Turkey's record, the strategy document
says the accession negotiations have `reached a demanding stage
requiring Turkey to step up its efforts in maintaining established
conditions.' It says: `Regarding fundamental rights, freedom of
expression and of the media needs to be strengthened in Turkey both in
law and practice. A number of shortcomings remain in the exercise of
the freedom of religion. Progress is also needed regarding women's
rights and gender equality and trade union rights. The `democratic
opening' aimed notably at addressing the Kurdish issue has produced
only limited results. The security situation in the Southeast has
worsened with a resurgence of attacks by the terrorist organization
[Kurdistan Workers' Party] PKK/Kongra-Gel. Some progress has been made
in the fight against corruption.'
The document also notes that Turkey's foreign policy `has become more
active in its wider neighborhood.' This is an asset for the EU, says
the strategy paper, `provided it is developed as a complement to
Turkey's accession process and in coordination with the EU.' The
government pursues a policy of zero-problems with neighbors, which won
Turkey friends in Syria, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and other countries of
the Middle East as well as Russia, but raised concerns in other
countries such as Israel and the United States that Turkey is moving
away from the West to build new alliances in the East.
The EU document also says there has been `considerable progress' in
negotiations for an agreement with Turkey for readmission of illegal
immigrants arriving in Europe after transiting Turkish territory.
On Cyprus, the document notes that Turkey remains supportive of
efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement on the fate of the island,
yet points out that there has been no progress towards `normalization
of bilateral relations with the Republic of Cyprus.' Turkey refuses to
open its ports and airports to traffic from Greek Cyprus as long as
Greek Cyprus, which represents the entire island in the EU, continues
to block EU plans to initiate direct trade with Turkish Cyprus. The EU
suspended accession talks on eight chapters in 2006 due to Turkey's
refusal to open its ports and airports to traffic from Greek Cyprus.
In the strategy paper, the European Commission says it will continue
to monitor the situation and says the EU decision to freeze talks on
eight chapters will remain in place. It also notes `a renewed impetus'
in Turkey to improve relations with Greece and that two protocols
Turkey signed with Armenia to normalize ties are yet to be ratified.
30 October 2010, Saturday
SELÃ?UK GÃ`LTAÅ?LI BRUSSELS
From: A. Papazian
Oct 30 2010
EU to call for new civilian constitution in Turkey strategy
The European Union is preparing to praise a set of amendments recently
made to Turkey's military-drafted Constitution but will reiterate its
call for a new civilian constitution, saying it is needed to
strengthen democracy in the candidate country.
`The constitutional amendments are an important step in the right
direction,' the European Commission is expected to say in a document
outlining the 27-nation bloc's enlargement strategy.
`A new civilian constitution would provide a solid base for a further
strengthening of democracy in Turkey, in line with European standards
and the EU accession criteria,' the document, a copy of which was seen
by Today's Zaman, reads. It is due to be released on Nov. 9 along with
an annual progress report that thoroughly assesses Turkey's efforts to
meet the EU's accession criteria. It will also call for `broad public
consultation involving all political parties and civil society' so as
to strengthen support for constitutional reform and `proper
implementation' of the reforms passed through relevant legislation.
The current Constitution, drafted during military rule in 1982,
underwent significant reform when voters approved a government-backed
package of amendments during a referendum on Sept. 12. The changes
further curtail powers of the military by limiting the authority of
military courts and ending constitutional immunity from prosecution
for leaders of the 1980 coup; reform the Supreme Board of Judges and
Prosecutors (HSYK), which appoints senior judicial figures; and
overhaul the Constitutional Court by allowing the president and
Parliament to elect all members. The changes, which critics had
claimed would establish government control over the judiciary, was
approved by 58 percent of the voters, while 42 percent voted against.
The EU, which has long called for judicial reform, is expected to
welcome the changes as advancing Turkey's reform efforts. The draft of
the strategy document says the reforms `address a number of priorities
in the areas of judiciary and fundamental rights.' According to the
document, changes made to the structure of the HSYK make the top
judicial body `more representative of the judiciary as a whole.'
Under the changes, the number of HSYK members rose from seven to 21.
Thousands of judges and prosecutors voted in elections earlier this
month to elect 10 members to the HSYK. In remarks earlier this week,
Stefan Füle, the EU's enlargement commissioner, welcomed the election
of new HSYK members by direct vote of judges and prosecutors.
Shortcomings in freedoms
Turkey, a candidate to join the EU since 1999, opened accession talks
with the bloc in 2005 but little progress has been achieved since then
due to the continued division of Cyprus and growing opposition to
Turkey's membership in many European countries. The EU also complains
that the pace of reforms in Turkey is slow.
Highlighting deficiencies in Turkey's record, the strategy document
says the accession negotiations have `reached a demanding stage
requiring Turkey to step up its efforts in maintaining established
conditions.' It says: `Regarding fundamental rights, freedom of
expression and of the media needs to be strengthened in Turkey both in
law and practice. A number of shortcomings remain in the exercise of
the freedom of religion. Progress is also needed regarding women's
rights and gender equality and trade union rights. The `democratic
opening' aimed notably at addressing the Kurdish issue has produced
only limited results. The security situation in the Southeast has
worsened with a resurgence of attacks by the terrorist organization
[Kurdistan Workers' Party] PKK/Kongra-Gel. Some progress has been made
in the fight against corruption.'
The document also notes that Turkey's foreign policy `has become more
active in its wider neighborhood.' This is an asset for the EU, says
the strategy paper, `provided it is developed as a complement to
Turkey's accession process and in coordination with the EU.' The
government pursues a policy of zero-problems with neighbors, which won
Turkey friends in Syria, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and other countries of
the Middle East as well as Russia, but raised concerns in other
countries such as Israel and the United States that Turkey is moving
away from the West to build new alliances in the East.
The EU document also says there has been `considerable progress' in
negotiations for an agreement with Turkey for readmission of illegal
immigrants arriving in Europe after transiting Turkish territory.
On Cyprus, the document notes that Turkey remains supportive of
efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement on the fate of the island,
yet points out that there has been no progress towards `normalization
of bilateral relations with the Republic of Cyprus.' Turkey refuses to
open its ports and airports to traffic from Greek Cyprus as long as
Greek Cyprus, which represents the entire island in the EU, continues
to block EU plans to initiate direct trade with Turkish Cyprus. The EU
suspended accession talks on eight chapters in 2006 due to Turkey's
refusal to open its ports and airports to traffic from Greek Cyprus.
In the strategy paper, the European Commission says it will continue
to monitor the situation and says the EU decision to freeze talks on
eight chapters will remain in place. It also notes `a renewed impetus'
in Turkey to improve relations with Greece and that two protocols
Turkey signed with Armenia to normalize ties are yet to be ratified.
30 October 2010, Saturday
SELÃ?UK GÃ`LTAÅ?LI BRUSSELS
From: A. Papazian