Turkish F.M. Says They Have Difference Of Opinion With The E.U. Over The Regional Administration In The North Of Iraq

BRUSSELS - Turkish FM and Chief EU Negotiator Ali Babacan said Turkey had difference of opinion with the EU over the regional administration in the north of Iraq just as it has difference of opinion over the Cyprus issue.
FM Babacan who is currently visiting Brussels to attend the Turkey-EU troika, briefed members of the Turkish press.
When asked about the use of the title "the Regional Kurdistan Administration" for the Regional Administration in the north of Iraq in some documents of the EU, Babacan said, "EU may have a different choice. The US's choice might be different also. Turkey has its own choices. We have declared that we would not recognise the part of the Iraqi constitution related with this issue (the regional administration in the north)."
Babacan emphasized that it was important for the Regional Administration in the north of Iraq to declare PKK as a terrorist organisation and said "frankly speaking we are not really certain about the intentions of the formation in the north of Iraq (i.e., Regional Administration). Though they made relatively acceptable remarks recently due to the pressure from various countries, however remarks alone don't change anything."
Babacan said Turkey expected the EU not to mix up the terrorist organisation and the 'Kurdish issue' and recalled that some EU member states had set free members of the terrorist organisation who were sought with a red bulletin (of Interpol).
Babacan said they wanted the EU to support Turkey's combat against terrorism just as they supported the reforms.
Commenting on the declaration of EU General Affairs and External Relations Council Babacan said the EU made a well balanced statement and emphasized that the PKK issue Turkey was dealing with was well understood in both the EU and the Middle East.
Babacan stressed that Turkey had made major reforms in the past 4-5 years and said, "there is support to the reforms from all regions of Turkey. Turkey will implement more political reforms sooner than expected."
Briefing reporters on the Turkey-EU Troika meeting Babacan said other than topics related to the EU-Turkey accession negotiations, Turkey's contribution to the solution of the issues in the Middle-east would come up. Babacan said the EU had noticed Turkey's successful dialogue with the regional countries and this was reflected in the progress report.
Babacan said Portugal (which is holding the rotating presidency) made binding statements saying that chapters regarding the Consumer and Health Protection would be opened in 2007.