BY ZEYNEP GURCANLI
STAR- The reason why Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will go to Brussels one day earlier than expected is a communiqué recently sent to Ankara from Brussels. The message was written by Turkey's permanent representative to the EU, Oguz Demiralp, who over the weekend met with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen.
‘I expect the EU Commission to pursue a positive and constructive Turkey policy after my term expires,’ Verheugen reportedly stated, adding that he was satisfied with Erdogan’s recent statements. ‘It seems that I failed to explain the importance of penal code reform to Turkish officials during my visit to Ankara. The reform is a part of the Copenhagen criteria. Not only the adultery clause, but also many other provisions in the reform package constitute the essence of Ankara’s democratization efforts. Therefore, it’s not possible for EU decision-makers to make a decision in December to start Ankara’s membership talks before the penal code reform is passed by the Parliament.” During his meeting with Demiralp, Verheugen went one step further and asked Ankara exactly when Parliament will pass the reform package.
After receiving Demiralp’s communiqué, Ankara sped up its preparations for the premier’s Brussels visit. Therefore, Erdogan has reportedly decided to tell the EU Commission and the European Parliament when the suspended provisions are scheduled to be debated and passed by Parliament. He is expected to convey the following message to the EU decision-makers:
‘The penal code is very important for Turkish citizens, as one of our country’s fundamental laws. The spirit of the new code conforms to EU norms and regulations. The new code has already been passed by the Parliament, with only two provisions concerning the application of the law currently suspended.’
He is also expected to tell the EU officials that even if Parliament fails to pass the entire reform package prior to the EU Commission’s progress report due out on Oct. 6, his government is resolved to complete the process before the EU’s December summit where EU leaders will make a decision on starting Turkey’s membership talks.