Accession Partnership Document With E.U.

STAR- Columnist Zeynep Gurcanli comments on the Accession Partnership Document to be announced by the European Union Commission. A summary of her column is as follows:
Ankara’s uneasiness concerning the Iraq crisis doubled with the European Union Commission’s statement on Cyprus. Now the government, which has been dealing with the proposal on Iraq, has to struggle with an urgent EU problem. What’s more, this statement is much more beyond the Commission’s statement, reporting, ‘Greek Cypriots will be an EU member in April on behalf of the entire island and then Turkey would be in the situation of an occupier.’ The EU, which will accept ten new members including the Greek Cypriots in April, is working on the Turkey issue as well. April 14 is an important date in terms of the Turkish-EU relations. The new Accession Partnership Document, consisting of the conditions of giving Turkey the date of membership negotiations, will be announced at the Partnership Council. Ankara has already been briefed on the content of the new Accession Partnership Document, which is also a road map towards the negotiations. The issues that the EU isn’t pleased concerning the situation in Turkey are in the following categories:
The army’s place in the politics: It seems that new Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will have problems with this issue the most because the EU document will emphasize that the changes to be made within the National Security Council’s (NSC) structure will be on the surface. It will put forward that the effect of the military on the NSC is exorbitant and that the number of civilian members within the Council won’t change it. It will state that Turkey has to change NSC’s function, following its structure.
Freedom of expression: The EU Accession Partnership Document will emphasize that Turkey didn’t implement the reforms, but only prepared them theoretically.
Torture and bad treatment: In spite of the government’s declarations in the opposite direction, the document will state that the torture and bad treatment continues in Turkey, which is incapable of reaching the western standards.
Religious freedoms: The EU document will put forward the necessity of reforming the situation of non-Moslems, who were given the status of minority with the Lausanne Treatment. The EU diplomats also emphasize that Turkey should make changes in the structure and functioning of Religious Affairs Chairmanship.
It will be Turkey’s turn after the Accession Partnership Document is declared. Then Turkey will have to prepare a National Programme to reply the conditions of the EU. It seems Turkey will face rather interesting discussions. We will see if the National Programme to be prepared by the government chaired by Mr. Erdogan will satisfy the EU, or other circles?

SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION