MILLIYET- Columnist Derya Sazak writes on the discussions over how the EU adaptations bill should be debated in the Parliament. A summary of his column is as follows:
When Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz could not find the support he sought from the political party leaders for a discussion of EU adaptation laws before a decision for new elections on Nov. 3 is taken, he challenged everyone by saying,' If all the parties which have said that they would support our EU bid, work in the Parliament with us, we will not bring up the EU issue during the elections. However, if the enactment of this law is obstructed with trivial excuses, despite all the promises made before the public, we shall build our election campaign on the issue.' Yilmaz's message was directed more to opposition parties such the True Path Party (DYP), the Justice And Development Party (AKP) and the brand new New Turkey (YT) rather than his coalition partners. The request on the part of the YT, which was built around the goal of entry to the EU, regarding the exclusion of the abolition of the death penalty as well as allowing teaching and broadcasting in the mother tongues from the package swept it to the side of Nationalistic Action Party (MHP). However, following criticism in the media, YT leader Cem said they woud sign the bill. There has been a certain softening in the MHP's stance. The Felicity Party (SP) supports it. The Democratic Left Party is in favor of the abolition of capital punishment. Only the DYP and AKP are left. If they too support the 13- article package 'unconditionally' as they had promised the Parliament can pass the EU laws in two or three weeks. Besides, the discussion of EU laws will not hinder deciding on a date for new elections. In the UN Humanitarian Progress Report Turkey ranks 85th, way below Greece which is 24th. It is quickly becoming a Third World country. Even under these circumstances we are resisting the EU. In fact, those governing the country are trying every method to leave Turkey out of the EU enlargement policy at the Copenhagen summit to meet in December. All surveys show that all the political parties are on razor's edge, except for the AKP. However there are no guarantees. All parties could stay well below the election threshold, as the public is furious. The people will not forgive parties which will darken its projects for brighter futures such as the EU.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION