Turkish P.M. Denies Any Row In Relations With E.U.

MALATYA (CIHAN) - Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan ruled out the existence of any problem in Turkey's relations with the European Union.
Erdogan said on Sunday in Malatya that relations with the European Union are good. "There is no trouble."
Relations between Turkey and the European Union have been chilly in recent days due to articles in the new Turkish penal code. EU Commissioner for Enlargement Gunter Verheugen said on Sunday the legislation of the new penal code is an indispensable condition to opening accession talks with Turkey.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) had to step back from its attempt to outlaw adultery recently due to pressure from the European Union as well as internal opposition from certain woman rights groups and opposition parties.
The legislation of the new penal code was locked in a stalemate when the AKP decided to withdraw the new code back to the parliament justice committee. The new penal code will be discussed in October when parliament opens its new legislation term.
Meanwhile, Turkish parliament speaker Bulent Arinc said on Sunday that Turkey will complete the EU membership process by facing and overcoming any obstacle.
Arinc said that Turkey has passed the critical threshold to open accession talks with European Union. "This point was acknowledged by everybody."
Turkey has passed a series of EU-minded reforms in the last two years in order to meet the Copenhagen criteria with a view to opening long-delayed accession talks with the wealthy bloc.
EU leaders are due to meet in December to decide whether Turkey, a candidate country since 1999, has made enough progress on human rights and political freedoms for the initiation of the long-delayed accession talks with the EU.