Filori Says Entry Negotiations Cannot Start Unless Tck Is Enacted

BRUSSELS - Jean-Christophe Filori, the spokesman of European Union (EU) Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen, said on Monday that entry negotiations between Turkey and the EU could not start unless important parts of the draft Penal Code (TCK) were enacted.
Releasing a statement following Verheugen`s news conference, Filori said, ``the EU cannot start entry negotiations with Turkey unless Ankara adopts a reform of its penal code. If this central element of reform, that is the new penal code, is not adopted, negotiations cannot start.``
Filori recalled that the EU Commission would submit its report about Turkey on October 6, and disclose its recommendations.
``The Commission will make it clear that the negotiations cannot start if the new penal code is not adopted by the sixth of October,`` he added.
(UK-MS) 20.09.2004