BRUSSELS - European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said on Thursday that accession strategy between Turkey and EU was a story of success.
Verheugen delivered a speech in ''Turkey's EU End-Game?'' conference organized by think tank ''Friends of Europe'', the Union of Turkish Chambers of Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), the Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) and Istanbul Textile and Ready-to-Wear Clothing Exporters Union (ITKIB) in Brussels.
Stating that Turkish government fulfilled very important reforms, Verheugen said that those reforms had another importance as they exceeded borders of Turkey.
Verheugen said that those reforms were also very important for Muslim countries, noting that universal values such as state of law and human rights did not contradict values of a Muslim country.
He stressed that significant taboos were broken thanks to reforms fulfilled in Turkey. Stating that there were some shortcomings on freedom of expression, maltreatment and religious freedoms in Turkey, Verheugen said that what was important was that reforms should be put into practice across the country.
Verheugen noted that he would pay a visit to Ankara and stated that he would meet with representatives of human rights associations during his visit.
Verheugen added that a preliminary study had already been launched in EU Commission regarding how Turkey's membership would affect EU institutions if it became an EU member.
(EÖ-AÖ) 17.06.2004