European Rapporteur Recommends Turkey To Make More Reforms

STRASBOURG - A European rapporteur advised on Tuesday that Turkey should make more reforms.
European Parliament`s Turkey rapporteur recommended Turkey to make more reforms and show its desire to maintain full membership negotiations with the European Union (EU).
Rapporteur Ria Oomen-Ruijten came after the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament adopted a report on Turkey on Monday.
Oomen-Ruijten, a parliamentarian of Dutch origin, told a press conference that not only the Turkish government but also the other political parties in the parliament should undertake responsibilities to fulfil reforms.
The Dutch rapporteur said the report had once more indicated that majority of the European Parliament was extending full support for Turkey-EU full membership negotiations.
On one hand they drew attention to positive steps Turkey had taken, on the other hand they wanted to bring up the shortcomings (of Turkey), the Dutch rapporteur told reporters.
Oomen-Ruijten underlined importance of motions for a resolution, which was adopted in Monday`s voting and called for a secular and democratic Turkey and expressed concerns over closure of the ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party.
Adopted by 53 votes to two, the report said Turkey`s top court (Constitutional Court) should reach its verdict on the closure case against AK Party in accordance with the principle of rule of law and European standards.
The report also said that the government should respect the pluralist structure and diversities in the democratic and secular Turkey while carrying out reforms.
The European Parliament will discuss and vote the report in a plenary session on May 22nd.
Turkey became an EU candidate country in December 1999. The union launched accession talks with Turkey on October 3rd, 2005.
(BRC-MS)