LONDON - Chairman of Parliamentary Adjustment Commission Yasar Yakýs said on Friday that Turkey was resolved to put into practice all the reforms till the end of the year 2004 and not to leave any excuse that will make EU delay its giving a negotiation date to Turkey.
Speaking in the Turkish Forum, a non-governmental organization in London last evening, Yakýs said that Turkey entered a critical period in its relations with the EU and it expected a positive response from EU to start full membership negotiations.
Yakýs said that the government was resolved to do its homework in the best way in order not to leave any excuse to the EU. Giving information about the quality of the reforms undertaken, Yakýs said that ''but we didn't stop there. EU didn't only want us to adopt laws, but to put them into practice, too. We target to complete the legal regulations till the end of the year and we will monitor implementation of reforms in 2004.''
Comparing Turkey with other ten EU candidate countries, Yakýs said that Turkey's EU process started 40 years ago. Yakýs said that EU promised Turkey to equally assess it with other candidate countries, but this was not done, adding that membership was possible for the mentioned ten countries without fulfilling all the political criteria, but conditions were still put for Turkey.
Yakýs said that EU took up the Cyprus issue wrongly and it continued its mistakes, pointing out that the first mistake was to accept membership application of the Greek Cypriot side.
Yakýs stressed that the application of Cyprus could only be legal and valid if both communities on the island applied to EU at the same time, reminding the legal reasons of that by referring to the provisions of 1960 Constitution. Yakýs said that the application of Greek Cypriot side was not valid under the international laws, adding that Turkey was now asked to sort out Cyprus issue and it was put forward as a kind of condition to get a date from EU to start membership negotiations.
Yakýs underlined that Cyprus issue had two sides, adding that ''if problem is going to be solved, the same thing should also be told to the Greek Cypriot side. This is not a fair approach, it is discrimination. The EU should explain this attitude.''
Former Foreign Minister Yakýs said that Cyprus issue was in fact a political issue which also had legal dimensions, adding that its solution should also be searched on political basis. Stressing that EU membership of Cyprus can't be among political criteria for Turkey's EU membership, Yakýs said that a bilateral problem couldn't be put forward as an excuse to delay the membership of Turkey.
Giving example the Gibraltar conflict between Britain and Spain, Yakýs said that ''nobody told the two countries to sort out the problem first before joining the EU.''
Yakis said Annan plan was put forward for solution of Cyprus question, yet that Turkey favored waiting for the results of the elections that would take place in Cyprus. Yakis said Turkey, following the results of elections, would exert efforts for a solution in cooperation with the new government of the TRNC.
Yakis said, ''nothing will happen if a solution can not be found till May 1. Greek Cypriot side may enter the EU, but the EU can not have sovereignty over whole of the island. Even the two societies take a decision on April 30, talks will continue after May 1.''
Pointing out to the discussions for connecting solution of Cyprus question with Annan plan, Yakis recalled that there were persistent references to Turkey's EU membership in Annan plan. Noting that Annan plan establishes a connection between Turkey's EU membership and solution of Cyprus issue, Yakis underlined that the connection between the two issues in Annan plan was not the same with the connection established by the EU. ''The plan has the understanding that 'the Cyprus issue will also be solved if Turkey's EU membership is provided.' That is, it gives priority to Turkey's membership.''
European Parliament Liberal Group member Baroness Sarah Lutford criticized EU's attitude in not taking Turkey's candidacy seriously for a long time.
Criticizing consideration of Turkey as a military partner rather than a political partner for the West for a long time, Lutford said a mistake had been made, and stressed that they had to accelerate political affairs.
Defending that EU continued to advance and looked for a high quality in its relations in democracy and law, Lutford said, ''we should be careful for each others' quality in bureaucracy, law and similar fields if we are to set up close relations. We should not consider them as unnecessary interventions. We should consider them as appreciating each other and taking each others' problems seriously.''
Underlining that accession of a secular, democrat, and Muslim country to the EU would be a very big advantage, Lutford stressed that Turkey's young population would also be an important advantage for Europe whose population is gradually getting old.
Lutford said EU did not put forward a condition by calling for a solution from Turkey on Cyprus issue, defending that the EU only wanted to underline several political realities. Lutford also said it was wrong to make demands only to Turkey and to call for solution only from Turkey.
Lutford said she was amazed to learn that Greek Cypriots announced Greek Cypriot language as the only official language to the EU, and described this as wrong attitudes that were not corrected by the EU.
Lutford said the EU should have to do better to overcome this difference, noting that trade between the north and the south should be improved.
Replying to another question, Lutford said she thought the warning made by British Foreign Ministry not to go to Turkey was wrong. She said terrorism could be experienced in any place of the world at any time, stressing that such kind of warnings did not bring a practical benefit.
Yakis also clarified a statement, which was claimed to be made by him in the past saying, ''Turkish soldiers will be in the position of occupiers if a solution can not be found till May 1''. Yakis said he did not say Turkey would be in the position of an occupier, stressing that, ''I said there are many western politicians thinking like this. I said those people would show Turkey as occupying force in north of the island on May 1 in case a solution can not be found. I am still afraid that several countries and politicians will present Turkey as an occupier in case a solution can not be found.''
Lutford also tried to clarify her expression ''dinosaur'' which she made against TRNC President Rauf Denktas. Lutford said she used made this expression not to the personality of Denktas, but to his political attitude. Lutford recalled that she apologized from Denktas for this.
(ÖÞ-AY-AÖ) 28.11.2003