PARLIAMENT SPEAKER: ''TURKEY-EU RELATIONS DEPEND ON MUTUAL INTERESTS''
IZMIR - Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc has said that relations between Turkey and the European Union (EU) depended on mutual interests.
Speaking at the 52nd meeting of Turkey-the EU Joint Parliamentary Commission at Izmir's Hilton Hotel, Arinc said on Tuesday, ''Turkey, which has adopted modern democratic values since the day it was founded, is determined to reach standards of the EU-member countries with its reform process. The Turkish parliament, which was renewed in the general elections of November 2002, has undertaken a historic responsibility in regard to meeting the Copenhagen political criteria. Both ruling and opposition parties have extended full support to Turkey's EU accession process. The ruling and opposition parties have displayed a unique will and co-operation during enactment process of new laws. Four new reform packages and hundreds of laws have been adopted since the general elections of November 2002.''
''These legal arrangements have provided progress in many significant fields such as freedom of expression, civilian-military relations and religious freedoms. We have taken important steps in the process of meeting the Copenhagen political criteria. Turkey has exceeded the critical threshold in regard to regulations. Our government has been carrying out the necessary works to put these reforms into practice with the same determination. The EU's making a decision to open accession talks with Turkey will accelerate this process,'' he said.
Arinc said that necessary laws and regulations had come into force to adjust civilian-military relations to practices in the EU-member countries.
Recalling that duties and authorities of the National Security Council (NSC) were restricted with the role of ''consultation'', Arinc said that budget of the Ministry of National Defense and military funds would be controlled by the parliament.
Arinc said that regulations about education and broadcasting in languages and dialects used by Turkish citizens in their daily lives, had come into force.
''We have also made a serious progress in meeting economic criteria. We expect the EU to make a decision in December to open accession talks with Turkey. The EU-member countries appreciated the progress in our EU accession process. Relations between Turkey and the EU depend on mutual interests,'' he said.
Arinc added, ''it was observed that some circles considered upcoming elections for the European Parliament an opportunity to put forward their statements against Turkey's membership to the EU. We should explain these circles the future contributions of Turkey to the EU with its secular and democratic system, dynamic population, economy, and its special political and strategic position on the junction point connecting the EU to Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East. Also, attempts to use the concepts of cultural diversities as an expression of excluding policy are quite dangerous. The real reason of the current tensions in the international platforms is the discrimination among nations, religions and cultures.''
(UK) 06.04.2004