Justice Minister Cemil Cicek told a Berlin conference in October 2006 that Türkiye had not reduced the pace of its EU-related reforms, dismissing reports to the contrary in both Turkish and German media as inaccurate. The event was organized by the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) and focused on Türkiye's EU accession process and its ties with Germany.
Cicek noted that more than 3,000 articles and numerous laws had been revised since 18 November 2002, and he acknowledged that translating new legislation into practice requires considerably more time than passing it. He described Germany as a key partner in Türkiye's bid for EU membership and emphasized the importance of the bilateral relationship.
The minister argued that Türkiye's accession would strengthen intercultural understanding and dispel mutual prejudices. He firmly rejected the concept of a 'privileged partnership' for Türkiye, saying such an arrangement falls outside EU norms. He called on both sides to deepen political and cultural dialogue as part of the broader accession effort.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in October 2006, in its own words.