ISTANBUL - Economic Development Foundation (IKV) said on Thursday that a realistic plan which aimed at removing shortcomings mentioned in the EU Commission's Progress Report in the following 10 months should be prepared and stated that this plan should be put into practice rapidly with the support of society.
Releasing a statement, IKV said that Progress Report assessed Turkey's adjustment level to Copenhagen criteria and stated that the report was supported by Strategy Paper which reflected political view of the Commission.
The statement said that progress which was recorded in legal arrangements was stressed in the report and stated that some shortcomings in implementation were underlined.
IKV said that issues which were listed as shortcomings in the 2003 Progress Report covered a narrower field when compared to reports of the previous years and it was a significant indicator for assessment of progress which was recorded in one year.
It noted that the determination of the government and Turkish people's supporting the reform packages were stressed in the report and said that it was an important issue which should be considered positive.
The statement said that the report covered Turkish government's statements supporting solution concerning the Cyprus issue.
It recalled that the decision on starting membership negotiations with Turkey would be assessed by 25 EU countries which would also include the Greek Cypriot administration in the summit in December 2004 and stated that the Strategy Paper underlined that unless a solution was found to the Cyprus issue, some EU member countries including the Greek Cypriot administration and Greece would have some difficulties to support this decision.
(EÖ-AÖ) 06.11.2003