BRUSSELS - The European Commission's Progress Report for Turkey starts by recalling that the Helsinki European Council meeting in December 1999 concluded, ''Turkey is a candidate State destined to join the Union on the basis of the same criteria as applied to the other candidate States.''
''The Copenhagen European Council meeting in December 2002 concluded that, 'the Union encourages Turkey to pursue energetically its reform process. If the European Council in December 2004, on the basis of a report and a recommendation from the Commission, decides that Turkey fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria, the European Union (EU) will open accession negotiations with Turkey without delay,' the report said in its preface.
The part entitled ''Relations between the EU and Turkey'' said, ''during the last year, the pre-accession strategy has continued to be implemented. Among the items discussed were the political reforms in Turkey, human rights, Cyprus and the peaceful settlement of disputes. Views were also exchanged on wider international issues such as European Security and Defense Policy, the Southern Caucasus, the Western Balkans, the Middle East Peace Process, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and effective multilateralism.''
''The participation of Turkey in the Community programs is continuously being intensified and extended on the basis of the Framework Agreement from 2002, which allows Turkey to participate in eleven programs and agencies. The Association Agreement has continued to work reasonably well. Certain improvements in the functioning of the Customs Union have taken place. However, an action plan for the widening and the deepening of the Customs Union could not be agreed. The share of the European Community (EU-25) in Turkey's foreign trade has continued to increase in 2003, for a second consecutive year. Total trade in goods with the EU-25 in 2003 was 11.5 percent up on 2002 and accounted for 54.7 percent of Turkey's overall trade. In 2003, exports to the EU-25 were 12.8 percent up on 2002, accounting for 58.1 percent (22.7 billion euros) of Turkey's total export sales,'' it said.
''The support provided by the pre-accession financial assistance program is focused on the Accession Partnership priorities which are intended to help Turkey meet the criteria for membership. Between 1995 and 2003, 1,098 million euros was committed to various programs in Turkey. The 2004 Program for Turkey consists of an allocation of 235.6 million euros for the National Program,'' the report said.
In the part entitled ''Criteria for Membership'', the report said, ''the political criteria for accession to be met by the candidate countries, as laid down by the Copenhagen European Council in June 1993, stipulate that these countries must have achieved 'stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities'.''
''Over the past year, the Turkish government has shown great determination in accelerating the pace of reforms, which have brought far-reaching changes to the political and legal system,'' it said.
Giving detailed information about reforms made in Turkey, the report said, ''The authorities have adopted a zero tolerance policy towards torture. Concerning freedom of religion, the changes introduced by the reform packages have not yet produced the desired effects. Regarding minority rights, cultural rights and the protection of minorities, the Constitution was amended to lift the ban on the use of the Kurdish language. While such progress is significant, there are still considerable restrictions on the exercise of cultural rights, including in the areas of broadcasting and education.''
Referring to relations with Greece, the report said, ''since 1999, relations with Greece have developed positively. A series of bilateral agreements have been signed and several confidence building measures have been adopted. As regards Cyprus, the issue of the division of the island and the initiatives related to its reunification have been high on the political agenda throughout the last few years. On several occasions, the Turkish government expressed its support for efforts to find a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem through the continuation of the UN Secretary General mission of good office.''
The part entitled, ''Democracy and the Rule of Law'' gives information about latest elections and political developments in Turkey. ''There has been a strong consensus between the government party and the main opposition party (CHP) on the policy of pursuing accession to the EU, meaning that many EU related reforms have been adopted by a large majority.''
''In the last two years, Turkey has enjoyed greater stability, overcoming the consequences of the two serious financial crises of 2000 and 2001. Political and economic reforms received new impetus because of the determination of the government to meet the Copenhagen criteria.''
''Since 1999, civilian control of the military has been strengthened. The constitutional and legal framework has been amended to clarify the position of the armed forces versus the civilian authorities. A number of changes have been introduced over the last year to strengthen civilian control of the military with a view to aligning it with practice in EU member States,'' it said.
The report noted, ''despite the above mentioned developments, there are still provisions on the basis of which the military continues to enjoy a degree of autonomy. As regards the institutional framework, there are legal and administrative structures which are not accountable to the civilian structures. Civilians can be tried before military courts for certain crimes. The role and the duties of the Armed Forces in Turkey are defined in several legal provisions. Depending on their interpretation, some of these provisions taken together could potentially provide the military with a wide margin of maneuver. This is particularly the case for Article 35 and Article 85/1 of the Turkish Armed Forces Internal Service Law, which defines the duties of the Turkish Armed Forces as to protect and preserve the Turkish Republic on the basis of the principles referred to in the preamble of the Constitution, including territorial integrity, secularism and republicanism.''
nst corruption is weak and initiatives are necessary for public opinion's becoming more sensitive about the issue.
In ''Human Rights and Protection of Minorities'' part, report explains various reforms and legal arrangements including the abolition of death penalty. It informs new Turkish Penal Code (TCK) and says Turkey approved many international agreements on that area.
The Commission says it necessary to enlarge effects of organizations which are established to protect and improve human rights. It notes that two important non-governmental organizations like Human Rights Associations and Mazlum-Der still refuse to participate in the activities on that area.
The report gives detailed information about legal arrangements and implementations on fight against discrimination and torture. It says the European Commission which investigates the issue confirms that Turkish government's policy of zero tolerance against torture really continues.
The Commission said regarding the freedom of thought that new TCK recorded small progress in this area, adding practical implementation should be followed closely.
The report touches on progress in freedom of press and it also explains problems of several non-governmental organizations, political parties and religious minorities.
The report says Christians are sometimes under police watch and there is no change in the condition of non-Sunni Muslim minorities and also Alewites are not recognized officially as religious community and they have location and education problems.
Underlining the steps taken in gender equality and protection of woman rights, the Commission gives measures which were taken in honor killings, sexual assault and virginity testing areas as examples, but it says problems continue in discrimination and domestic violence.
Stressing the low number of woman members at Parliament, the report shows the source of this problem as the high rate in women's lack of education.
In ''Minority Rights, Protection of Cultural Right and Minorities'' part, it says Turkish officials only consider non-Muslims as minority by depending on Lausanne Treaty. It notes, ''however, other communities including Kurds are also living in Turkey.''
The report says condition in southeast region where most of the Kurds are living improves gradually, and emergency rule was lifted, and people returned to their villages, but the situation remains critical. It says despite a general improvement in the situation in the Southeast, the security threat has increased since the Kongra-Gel (formerly PKK) announced the end of the ceasefire in June 2004.
In ''Cyprus'' part, the report says this issue has affected Turkey-EU relations since 1999 and Turkish government supports the solutions for the issue. It recalls the referendum which was held in Cyprus and says Greek Cypriot side has become EU member on May 1, 2004, stating, ''Turkey issued a decree which includes Cyprus in the countries which customs union conditions are applied.''
In ''General Evaluation'' part, it says Turkey has taken important steps with reform packages and recorded progress, but there are still things to be done.
In ''Economic Criteria'' part, the report makes a general evaluation about Turkish economy since 1999. It notes the serious decrease in inflation rate, stresses the importance of modernization initiatives in institutions and states the high rate in unemployment and poverty.
The report says Turkey made important progress in adjustment to EU values and measures in economic area. It notes Turkey decreased macro-economic imbalances, adjusted to competition milieu of EU internal market and it says Turkey should pursue reforms.
The Conclusion part says ''Alouites are still not recognized as Muslim minority'', ''Non-Muslim minorities still have problems'' and ''important restrictions still continue in areas like radio-television and education.''
The report says Turkey should complete negotiations with 25 EU member countries for adaptation of Ankara Agreement to enlargement of the EU.
(GC-MS) 08.10.2004