STRASBOURG - ''Turkey will soon approve Rome Agreement after completing its internal preparations and will become part of the International Criminal Court Convention'' Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in Strasbourg.
Addressing the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE), Erdogan said Council of Europe represents unification of around 800 million European citizens around democratic values and legal standards.
-''REFORM PROCESS''-
''The third summit of Council of Europe Heads of State and Government, planned to take place next May in Warsaw, will constitute a timely opportunity for determination of future role of the council within the European architecture,'' Erdogan said, noting that, ''more than 190 agreements constituting the norms of Council of Europe are also important points of reference for Turkey. Including European norms to Turkey's legal system constituted the main element of our reform process. Turkey today delivered to the Secretary General the instruments of ratification of three Council of Europe agreements and it signed two more agreements.
-THE REFORMS-
Erdogan said former Prime Minister Abdullah Gul addressed the PACE in January 2003 and put forward Turkey's pledges for reforms.
Erdogan said he was pleased to say that almost all those reforms were fulfilled although a very short time passed after that time.
Mentioning some of those reforms, Erdogan said, ''we abolished death sentence completely and eliminated it from our legislation. We will soon complete approval procedures of protocol no:13. We have dissolved State Security Courts. We adopted and implemented 'zero tolerance' against torture and inhumane treatment.''
''We have harmonized civilian-military relations within democratic norms. We made necessary changes regarding gender equality. We have started language courses and broadcast in languages and dialects which Turkish citizens use traditionally in daily life. We issued a law to compensate the loses of those who suffered from terrorist acts,'' Erdogan said.
-''SILENT REVOLUTION''-
Erdogan said the comprehensive reforms that have been put into force and the steps that were made to accelerate their implementation were described as ''silent reform'' in a report of Independent Turkey Commission, comprised of leading European politicians.
''WE WILL ENTER LAST PHASE OF A LONG-STANDING PROCESS AFTER OPENING ENTRY NEGOTIATIONS WITH EU IN FIRST HALF OF 2005''
Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''today is of great importance in Turkey's EU accession process. I believe that the 'positive approach' in the Commission's report and recommendation would be backed by political leaders of the Union with a powerful political will (on Dec 17th). We wish that we will enter the last phase of a long-standing process after opening of entry negotiations with the EU in the first half of 2005.''
-CYPRUS-
Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''as a result of ongoing changes, Turkish society has adopted Europe's culture of compromise. It is also reflected in Turkish government's recent constructive attitude and efforts to find a solution to the long-standing Cyprus problem. International community appreciated Turkey's determination to find a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus controversy and its positive contributions to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's efforts. Unfortunately, the twin referenda held in Cyprus on April 24th , 2004 did not yield the desired results. Results of the referenda gave rise to a new situation on the island. In his report about his good-will mission, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan stressed clearly that results of the referenda removed all valid reasons to put pressure on Turkish Cypriot people and to pursue an isolation policy against them. Mr. Annan called on all states to cooperate in removing unnecessary restrictions and obstacles isolating Turkish Cypriot people both on bilateral and international levels and to put an end to practices preventing their economic development.''
-''CONCRETE MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN''-
''It is high time to put and end to political, economic, social and cultural isolation of Turkish Cypriot people and to lift decades-long unfair economic embargo. Concrete measures should be taken to facilitate direct ties (with TRNC) in commerce, culture and transportation,'' he said.
Prime Minister Erdogan noted, ''the PACE took a decision two days ago enabling Turkish Cypriot parliamentarians to make their voices heard. The PACE has made a rightful step.''
-''TERRORISM CANNOT BE JUSTIFIED IN ANY WAY''-
Erdogan stated that terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction were the main threats against the security and freedom, noting that terrorism actually became a global threat.
''There is need for a new unity and solidarity in fight against terrorism,'' he stressed, noting that ''Terrorism do not recognize any national or regional border. It cannot be identified with a single religion or case. Terrorism is a crime against humanity and it cannot be justified in any way.''
Noting that Turkey supported the Council of Europe to play a more active role in fight against terrorism, Erdogan said, ''in that respect, I invite Council of Europe to intensify its talks with the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) to develop dialogue and understanding between cultures and religions. Turkey, as a member of the two organizations, is ready to deploy necessary effort on this matter.''
-IRAQ-
Stressing that security vacuum in Iraq caused uneasiness to all concerned parties, Erdogan noted that transfer of authority to interim government was the first step of the ''normalization'', but the way to political stability was ''full of mines''.
Erdogan noted that they would continue to help Iraqi Interim Government in its difficult task to assure stability, security and prosperity in the country. Stating that Turkey continued to send medicine and foodstuff to Iraq and extend help in the areas such as infrastructure, water supply and energy generation, he noted ''Turkey carries the biggest burden in this respect. Nearly 40 (Turkish) people died in Iraq,''.
Stating that Turkey and the region attached great importance to rebuilding of Iraq, protection of territorial integrity and political unity as well as the formation of a government representing all ethnic and religious communities, he said, ''the consultation mechanism continues between Iraq and its neighbors. We want to see an Iraq which eliminated terror from its territories, had peaceful relations with its neighbors and which was integrated to international community.''
Erdogan added that Turkey would continue to be an active member of the Council of Europe.
(UK-EÖ-ULG) 06.10.2004