ANKARA - European officials did not lay down a satisfactory formula about issue of derogations taken up in Cyprus talks process in Turkey-European Union (EU) Troika meeting held in Ankara on Monday.
Diplomatic sources quoted Turkish side as saying in the meeting that ratification of a possible agreement to be reached in Cyprus by EU Council was not sufficient and said that Turkish side expressed its view that possible agreement should be presented to parliaments of EU member countries.
As a response, European officials only said that they could understand Turkey's concerns and they continued their work on the issue.
European officials did not propose a solution about turning derogations into EU's main law, which would satisfy Turkish side.
The sources said that EU and United Nations (U.N.) officials held meetings on the issue in Cyprus but this issue was an internal matter of EU and EU jurists should undertake the real role.
Diplomatic sources also said that European officials congratulated Turkish side on making constructive contributions to resumption of Cyprus talks.
Turkish side reiterated its views that Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) should be recognized and embargoes on TRNC should be lifted if the result ''no'' was to come out of the referendum in the Greek Cypriot side, and underlined that Turkish Cypriot people should feel relieved any more.
Turkish side gave the message that ''the above mentioned views should be taken into consideration in such a case.''
European officials brought onto agenda honor killings and some cases filed about human rights in the meeting in which steps to be taken by Turkey in order to meet Copenhagen criteria were discussed.
European officials also stressed issues which Turkey had committed to fulfil like turning State Security Courts (DGMs) into specialized courts, and structural changes in Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) and Higher Education Board (YOK).
EU representatives showed Guldunya Toren, a woman who was killed by her elder brothers in a hospital in Istanbul where she was treated, as an example of especially honor killings and asked Turkey to make more comprehensive arrangements in Turkish Penal Code (TCK) about honor killings.
In the meeting, EU officials also brought onto agenda the case of doctor Alp Ayan, a member of Turkish Human Rights Foundation who is tried on charges of ''humiliating the Justice Ministry and Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).''
Case of Leyla Zana, a former member of the closed Democracy Party (DEP), and her friends and right to broadcast in mother tongue were other issues put forward by European representatives in the meeting.
EU officials said that there were still some negative reports about torture in Turkey.
The sources said that Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul reiterated Turkey's demand that terrorist organization PKK/KONGRA-GEL should be added to the EU's list of terrorist organizations.
The same sources noted that Turkish side continued initiatives about inclusion of PKK/KONGRA-GEL in that mentioned list.
''Greater Middle East Initiative'' of the United States was also taken up in the meeting, the sources stated.
The sources added that European officials explained their own project which was also named ''Greater Middle East'' project but which had a few differences when compared with that of the United States.
(BRC-AÖ) 08.03.2004