BELGIUM: EU urges Turkey reforms on freedom of expression

The European Union publishes its yearly report on Turkey, saying that it wants to encourage the government's current progress towards building a more democratic state without letting go of its key demands on freedom of expression, the military and Cyprus. The European Commission said on Tuesday (November 6) that Turkey must make significant further efforts on freedom of expression and religion to move forward in its bid for EU entry now it has overcome a constitutional crisis. In an annual progress report on the European Union's biggest and most controversial candidate, the EU executive also demanded more effort to enable the mainly Kurdish population of southeastern Turkey to enjoy full rights and freedoms. Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said democracy had prevailed over military intervention in politics in this year's crisis over the election of a new president. It is now time, he said, for Ankara to renew the momentum of reforms that had slowed since 2005. "Now the time has come for Turkey to regenerate the momentum of the reform process. It's fine that the government has put the constitutional reform at top of its agenda with a view to reinforce democracy and individual freedoms but it should not result in a postponement of reforms that are urgently needed such as freedom of expression and of religion," Rehn said. The commissioner denied that the EU had shown itself softer on Turkey compared to previous highly critical reports on the government's position vis a vis freedom of expression, the military and opening up its ports to traffic from Cyprus. He said instead that the EU was encouraged by Turkey's progress in establishing stronger democratic processes. "The report certainly is not softer neither harder. In fact what's changed are the circumstances in the sense that in the past year the reforms slowed down, largely because of the political turmoil in Turkey while at the same time Turkey was able to overcome this political turmoil with reinforced democratic institutions," he said. The report came out amid tension between Turkey and Iraq over attacks by Turkish Kurdish separatists. It highlighted the need for progress on the rights of Kurds, as well as women, children and trade unions and civilian oversight over the military. Rehn strongly condemned terrorist attacks and said Turkey had the right to protect its population but urged Ankara and Baghdad to solve the crisis over cross-border attacks by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) through cooperation. He said it was important for Turkey to continue on the road to a diplomatic settlement through cooperation with Iraq and the international community. The fact that Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan had met U.S. President George W. Bush on Monday was a good sign in his personal view. "The recent discussions for instance between President Bush and Prime Minister Erdogan and some recent events have been encouraging so that the overall political strategy of Turkey is gradually producing results," he said However Rehn did recommend that the EU should not open accession talks with Turkey on the key policy area of justice and human rights until Ankara had repealed or amended article 301 of its penal code, used to prosecute journalists and intellectuals for "insulting Turkishness". "The infamous article 301 of the penal code must be repealed or amended without delay," he said. Turkey began accession negotiations in 2005 but the EU suspended talks last December on eight of the 35 chapters into which EU law is divided after Ankara refused to open its ports and airports to traffic from Cyprus. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, elected in May, has said Turkey is not geographically in Europe and should not join the 27-nation bloc. Rehn said the EU must stick to its word and open new negotiating chapters as and when they are ready to maintain the visibility and credibility of the accession prospects.

ITN Source | November 7, 2007

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