Decision Of Coepa Monitoring Committee To Close Monitoring Procedure For Turkey

FOREIGN MINISTRY: ''THE DECISION IS A SIGN OF SUCCESS OF REFORMS IN TURKEY ON DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND RULE OF LAW''

ANKARA - Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that decision of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (COEPA) Monitoring Committee to close the monitoring procedure for Turkey was a sign of success of comprehensive reforms made in Turkey to adjust to European norms in democracy, human rights and rule of law.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Namik Tan said monitoring procedure for Turkey would end after the draft report and recommendatory decision of COEPA Monitoring Committee is accepted at the general assembly meeting next month, and that Turkey would pass to the level of ''post-monitoring procedure''.
Tan said closing of the monitoring procedure would not only record improvement in relations with Council of Europe, but also mean removing a very important obstacle in Turkey's full membership process to the EU.
Tan said EU norms, on which Turkey was expected to record progress, were listed in the draft report and recommendatory decision.
Tan said Turkey already had a strong will to adjust to European norms in those areas, stressing that the reforms that had been fulfilled were the signs of Ankara's determination in this respect.
Tan said Turkey would continue its efforts to upgrade standards in democracy, human rights and rule of law.
(AY) 04.03.2004