52nd Meeting Of Turkey - E.U. Joint Parliamentary Commission Ends

IZMIR - Aydin Dumanoglu, the co-president of the 52nd meeting of Turkey-the European Union (EU) Joint Parliamentary Commission has said, ''the EU supports and appreciates reforms and seven adjustment packages adopted in Turkey.''
Holding a press conference at the end of the meeting in western province of Izmir, Dumanoglu said on Wednesday, ''in accordance with the agenda, issues such as 'communication strategies for Turkey's accession to the EU', 'innovations and their implementation for Turkey's accession to the EU', and the Cyprus issue were discussed at the meeting. As a result of our talks, a final statement was prepared for the first time in meetings held twice in a year.''
Dumanoglu noted, ''co-presidents and members of both sides exerted great efforts to prepare the final statement. The statement includes Turkey's initiatives and changes in its EU process. The EU supports and appreciates reforms and seven adjustment packages adopted in Turkey. As a result, we have great optimism about the EU's setting a date in December of 2004 for opening of accession talks with Turkey. The two-day meeting was held in a quite clear and sincere atmosphere.''
Referring to the Cyprus issue, Dumanoglu said, ''in the Article 16 of the final statement, we said that we have been supporting target of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan envisaging accession of Cyprus to the EU on May 1, 2004 as the United Cyprus Republic. They all are aware that an agreement to be reached in the island will be one of the greatest inheritances for the current and next generations. When we think about results of a failure to reach an agreement, importance of such an agreement is well-understood.''
''Approval of the final statement by the Turkish and the Greek sides will please both Turkish and European Parliament (EP) members. Also, we want to stress that we will respect for results of the referendums to be held in the both sides on April 24 whether they are positive or negative. We can overcome all problems in Cyprus with good-will and mutual good-intention,'' he added.
A JOINT STATEMENT RELEASED FOR THE FIRST TIME
The statement said that talks had focused on the issues of Turkey-the EU Relations under Enlargement Process, Approaches in the EU about Turkey's Accession to the EU, Preparation of the Progress Report for 2004 by the EU Commission, Financial Co-operation, Communication Strategy, Development and Implementation of Reforms in Turkey and Cyprus.
The 17-article statement said that the EU Commission acknowledged that Turkey had made important progress in its EU accession period since the Helsinki Summit of 1999, and welcomed both side's working together to maintain the current acceleration.
The statement underlined that recent international and regional developments entailed Turkey and the EU to set up closer relations in which the Turkish parliament and the European Parliament could undertake significant roles.
The statement noted that as it was confirmed in the Progress Report for the year 2003, Turkey had reached an important threshold in its regulation efforts to fulfil political criteria.
It said that the EU Commission welcomed Turkey's intention to submit a new regulation amendment with the aim of meeting priorities indicated in the relevant EU documents, and ensuring more adjustment to the Copenhagen Political Criteria.
Recalling that the Turkish parliament had adopted a series of adjustment packages constituting important steps in adjustment to the Copenhagen Political Criteria and European standards about freedom of though and expression, the statement said that the political will which was adopted by the Turkish government and the Turkish parliament not only to fulfill the Copenhagen Political Criteria, but also to further improve economic, social and political conditions of Turkish people was welcomed. The statement pointed out that such reforms could be assessed only by taking into consideration their actual implementation in the daily live in all sections of the society.
The statement said that Turkey's decision to annul the death penalty was welcomed.
Noting that participation in the programs and agencies of the EU was one of the important elements of the pre-accession strategy, the statement said that this would help further integration of Turkey with EU policies in various areas.
The statement noted that the EU Commission welcomed methodical and institutional steps taken for Turkey's benefiting from the 14 programs and two agencies as a result of signing of the Frame Agreement about General Principles of Turkey's Participation in the EU Programs.
In regard to Customs Union, the joint statement underlined that it was very important for Turkey to develop effective administrative structures at central and local levels in order to fulfill new duties, which were parts of accession partnership.
Articles about prevention of torture and fight against terrorism of the joint statement underlined that the commission welcomed Turkey's studies on those issues.
Commission is pleased with results achieved from Turkish government's putting into practice its commitment on eradication of torture. There should be more progress on this issue. The commission welcomed Turkey's cooperation with its European partners in fight against terrorism and organized crimes and made a call that efforts to stop illegal migration should be increased, the statement noted.
In regard to east and southeast regions of the country, the statement noted that the commission was pleased with Turkey's efforts with Turkish government's commitment to decrease differences between east and west parts of the country and support economic and social development in regions which had some disadvantages.
The statement said that problems that Turkish citizens faced when they wanted to receive Shengen visa were noted and stated that the commission called on authorities of EU member countries to take necessary steps to ease method which was implemented for Turkish students, researchers and businessmen who applied to receive Shengen visa for their academic education or business.
It noted that one of key goals of the preaccession strategy was improvement of exchange of information between EU and Turkish nongovernmental organizations.
In regard to ''Cyprus issue'', the statement said that they were pleased with goals and proposals which were put forward by U.N. Secretary General to unite Cyprus and noted that they expected the two societies on the island to adopt those proposals for a united Cyprus to join the EU on May 1, 2004.
(UK-EÖ-AÖ) 07.04.2004