European Parliament's committee to vote on Turkey report
July 11, 2006
Turkish Daily News
The European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs is scheduled to vote today on a draft progress report on Turkey drawn up by Dutch Rapporteur Camiel Eurlings -- a report the content of which is described by diplomatic sources in Brussels as “the heaviest report in the history of the European Parliament.”
The draft asks Turkey to accelerate its reform process, particularly in the areas of freedom of speech, religious and minority rights, civil-military relations, women's rights, unions, cultural rights and independence of the judiciary as well as urging proper implementation of those reforms, the Anatolia news agency reported.
Welcoming the Ninth Harmonization Package launched by the government, the report is also expected to express concern over a new antiterrorism bill that has been widely criticized by the media, opposition parties and rights organizations in Turkey as they say it is a huge step backwards for Turkey.
The report calls for equality for all before the judiciary without discrimination for government officials or military and security officials.
As regards freedom of expression, arguing that certain articles of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) are available for “arbitrary interpretation,” the report highlights need for change of those articles, particularly articles 216, 277, 288, 301, 305 and 318.
While condemning the violence launched by outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the report also expresses the expectation that the government will seek a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue.
“For having a wider representation at the Turkish Parliament, including pro-Kurdish parties,” the 10 percent threshold in the electoral system should be decreased, the report says.
Urging the opening of Turkey's ports and airports to traffic from Greek Cyprus, the report also asks Ankara to take one-sided steps for starting diplomatic and good neighborhood relations with Armenia -- first of all by opening its border with Armenia.
Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.
Turkish Daily News
The European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs is scheduled to vote today on a draft progress report on Turkey drawn up by Dutch Rapporteur Camiel Eurlings -- a report the content of which is described by diplomatic sources in Brussels as “the heaviest report in the history of the European Parliament.”
The draft asks Turkey to accelerate its reform process, particularly in the areas of freedom of speech, religious and minority rights, civil-military relations, women's rights, unions, cultural rights and independence of the judiciary as well as urging proper implementation of those reforms, the Anatolia news agency reported.
Welcoming the Ninth Harmonization Package launched by the government, the report is also expected to express concern over a new antiterrorism bill that has been widely criticized by the media, opposition parties and rights organizations in Turkey as they say it is a huge step backwards for Turkey.
The report calls for equality for all before the judiciary without discrimination for government officials or military and security officials.
As regards freedom of expression, arguing that certain articles of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) are available for “arbitrary interpretation,” the report highlights need for change of those articles, particularly articles 216, 277, 288, 301, 305 and 318.
While condemning the violence launched by outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the report also expresses the expectation that the government will seek a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue.
“For having a wider representation at the Turkish Parliament, including pro-Kurdish parties,” the 10 percent threshold in the electoral system should be decreased, the report says.
Urging the opening of Turkey's ports and airports to traffic from Greek Cyprus, the report also asks Ankara to take one-sided steps for starting diplomatic and good neighborhood relations with Armenia -- first of all by opening its border with Armenia.
Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.
posted by Vahe Balabanian at 7:58 AM
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