BERLIN - Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission Chairman Mehmet Dulger said it was a big problem that judicial organs in Turkey were conservative.
Dulger spoke at a meeting entitled, ''Turkey on the Road to EU'' staged in Berlin by German Heinrich Boll Foundation.
Pointing out that European Union (EU) wanted influence of Turkish Armed Forces in politics to be decreased, Dulger said, ''our army does not oppose to political control. Turkish people attribute great importance to its army because of the atmosphere they are in.''
Giving information about the reforms made in Turkey, Dulger said, ''we abolished death sentence, we made party closures difficult, we broadened freedom of demonstration, and we set up a Reform Follow Up Group. We said 'zero tolerance' for torture. We will altogether see the practices.''
Dulger said there was not any new issue in EU Commission's Progress Report on Turkey, noting that they very well knew what should be done.
Speaking about Cyprus question, Dulger said, ''if anything is demanded from one side on Cyprus, the same thing should be demanded from the other side also. Turkey of course calls for a solution.''
Dulger said, ''Greek Cypriot side will of course not be interested in talks if it is accepted to the EU without making any sacrifice and if pressure is put on Turkey for solution of Cyprus question. We should reach an agreement in this respect.''
Hayret Yalav, Berlin Embassy Undersecretary, said 80 percent of Turkish people wanted EU membership, stressing that, ''Turkey needs EU and EU needs Turkey. We are expending great efforts to this end. Turkey has fulfilled most of the difficult but obligatory reforms. We will put them into practice. I am sure we will succeed in this because the government and our people have will in this respect.''
(AY) 06.11.2003