BY MEHMET ALTAN
STAR- A program which will ensure freedom and other benefits for the Turkish people was approved by the European Union earlier this week and sent to the Turkish side. I mean the 15-page accession partnership document. We should implement the requirements laid out in the document in three or four years for the sake of full EU membership. I see the document as one of political consensus. I follow political developments in Brussels, and suggest you do the same, because the will to find a solution contained in the recommendations in this document will show if politics in Ankara has lost direction.
The document's first recommendation concerns better operation of the public administration and strengthening local administrations. The EU wants us to again take up legislation on public administration. Secondly, it stresses that civilian management and control over the military should be brought up to EU standards. The document reiterates that civilian officials should keep the military under tight control, and the transparency and monitoring of military spending is also stressed. It emphasizes limiting the powers of the military judicial system. Judicial reform, training judges in line with European Convention of Human Rights and European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rulings, and the independence of judges are also highlighted.
The document also refers to corruption, saying that EU anti-corruption methods could be employed in Turkey. The issue of human rights and protecting minorities is also covered. In addition, the document urges that, for example, the optional protocol to the United Nations Convention Against Torture should be adopted to strengthen anti-torture efforts. It reiterates the policy of `zero tolerance' for torture, issues warnings, and offers suggestions about its requirements. The issue of developing freedom of expression in line with the ECHR is also underlined.
The document particularly stresses freedom of religion, problems of non-governmental organizations, the rights of assembly and demonstration, the rights of women, children and workers, and anti- discrimination policies. The issue of minority and cultural rights has a prominent place in the document, which also makes special reference to the issue of eastern and southeastern Anatolia . It also points to the drawbacks of the village guard system and says certain areas should be cleared of mines. On the Cyprus issue, it reiterates that Turkey's relations with EU member states should be normalized as soon as possible. As for the economy, the document urges continued stringent fiscal policies. It also stresses the urgent need for social security reform. Other issues covered include state economic enterprises (SEEs), reigning in the market economy, the free movement of goods, services and capital, public tenders, and corporate law.
The government is responsible for presenting a timetable to EU bodies for fulfilling the document's agenda, one not exceeding three or four years. If a will is shown towards this end, this program will be able to address a great many issues, including headscarves, Kurds, Alawis, conscientious objectors, unemployment and poverty.
Meanwhile, Parliament passed the new Foundations Law, and I also read yesterday that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with new Turkish ambassadors about the importance of improving and speeding up the EU partnership process. These are important things, but not sufficient, because we have many problems to solve. But if steps are taken to implement the accession partnership document, these problems would be soon solved. Anybody who wants to create peace and stability in Turkey should walk down this road together.