EU COMMISSIONER SAYS OUTCOME OF EU TALKS DEPENDS ON TURKEY
Anatolia News Agency
Oct 3 2008
Turkey
Paris, 3 October: A European commissioner expressed thought on Friday
[3 October] that Turkey’s European Union (EU) accession negotiations
depended on the country itself.
Olli Rehn, the European commissioner for enlargement, said that
the rhythm and outcome of Turkey’s EU full membership negotiations
depended on Turkey.
The rhythm and outcome of entry talks was closely related with Turkey’s
fulfilling required reforms, Rehn said in a conference in the French
capital of Paris.
In the conference, Rehn thanked France, holding the rotating presidency
of the union, for its efforts to keep the regular momentum of full
membership negotiations with Turkey.
Rehn referred to Turkey’s strategic and diplomatic role, and said
that Turkey, with an overwhelmingly Muslim population, democratic and
secular model and diplomacy, was a significant actor in its region
and an important element of stability.
The commissioner referred to Turkey’s role as a mediator in
Israeli-Palestine and Israeli-Syrian disputes and Caucasus crisis,
and its new policy towards Armenia.
Rehn said those policies of Turkey reaffirmed its key role in the
region and its relations with the EU.
The commissioner also said that Turkey was sending troops to peace
operations of Europe, and contributing to EU’s fight against terrorism,
drug and human trafficking.
Turkey was actively contributing to security of EU citizens, he said.
Rehn drew attention to Turkey’s economic potential, and said Turkey
was offering significant trade perspectives before companies in EU
member states.
The commissioner also said that Turkey had a key role in ensuring the
security of energy routes towards the EU, and verifying those routes.
Turkey became an EU candidate country in December 1999. The union
launched accession talks with Turkey on 3 October 2005.