EU REPORT ON TURKEY OUT OF FOCUS, TURKISH MINISTER SAYS
Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Oct 12 2011
Turkey’s EU Minister Egemen BagıÅ~_ speaks at a news conference in
Ä°stanbul. (Photo: Cihan)
Turkey’s EU Minister Egemen BagıÅ~_ criticized the European Union
after it expressed concern in a regular progress report over freedom
of expression and said Turkey should do more to normalize its relations
with Greek Cyprus.
BagıÅ~_, speaking at a press conference soon after the release of
the annual report in Brussels, said the report was out of focus.
“Although the report tries to take an objective and balanced picture of
Turkey, we think that the camera used by the commission is old with a
worn out lens and the lens needs to be changed, as the picture taken
has lots of blurred parts and the camera seems to be zooming on the
false points,” BagıÅ~_ said.
In its report, the European Commission urged the European Union to
continue accession talks with Turkey but said no progress was achieved
in the last year. It also expressed concern about tensions between
Ankara and EU-member Greek Cyprus. In a reference to a recent spat
over gas drilling rights in the eastern Mediterranean, the Commission
told Ankara to avoid threats that could further damage ties.
On individual freedoms, the report said “significant further
efforts are required to guarantee fundamental rights in most
areas,” highlighting in particular concerns in the area of freedom
of expression. “…The number of court cases against writers and
journalists and the still frequent disproportionate website bans
raised serious concerns,” the report said.
BagıÅ~_ said no journalist was in jail in Turkey for journalistic
activities, saying journalists do not have criminal immunity just
because they are journalists.
In addition to the EU’s reform concerns, ppposition from Greek
Cyprus as well as French and German reluctance to admit the largely
Muslim state are also a main obstacle to Turkish membership, with a
“privileged partnership” being mooted as an alternative to regular
membership.
“Full membership to the union is Turkey’s only goal, no other goals
can be accepted,” BagıÅ~_ told the news conference. “We hope that
the EU will soon emerge from its eclipse of the mind,” he added in
comments on the report.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule said both Brussels and Ankara
were frustrated by the lack of progress in Turkey’s EU accession. Just
under half of Turkey’s exports are sold to the European Union.
Turkey’s main opposition, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), suspects
the government of losing commitment to joining the European Union,
after successfully using EU-backed reforms to curb the military’s
powers, and reduce chances for a return to the era of coups.
“When we look at the present situation it is complete deadlock as far
as relations with the EU go,” CHP lawmaker Rıza Turmen told foreign
journalists in Ä°stanbul on Monday.
Turmen also regarded as counterproductive a threat by the government
to freeze ties with the EU presidency when Greek Cyprus takes over
the rotating role in mid-2012.
From: A. Papazian