ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish Parliament EU Harmonization Commission Chairman Yasar Yakis has remarked today (Monday) that if Turkey cannot become a member after the referendum (to be held) in France, the reforms would still be beneficial for the Turks.
Participating in a panel discussion organized at Kadir Has University to mark Europe Day, Yakis indicated that Turkey has walked a long way since 2000 in the screening process. ''The new members of the EU, who were formerly members of the Eastern Bloc, have re-written their laws and regulations from scratch. Turkey, unfortunately, does not have a similar status,'' said Yakis.
''There is a strong bureaucracy and pattern of traditions in Turkey. The bureaucracy has resisted reform in some sectors. Making reforms is not enough. The implementation of the reforms must be conducted by 10,000 policemen. The fact that negotiations are open ended is not a new thing. In 1963 and 1967, open ended negotiations were conducted against Britain,'' told Yakis.
Meanwhile, Kadir Has University's Dean of Communications Dr. Nilufer Narli has expressed that one of the most important topics in negotiations is culture. ''With Turkey's membership, the EU would get richer culturally. In the past five years, very important reforms took place in Turkey. Reforms must continue with the same pace,'' commented Narli.
(SOL-ULG)
2005-05-09