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| Europe |
| Turkish official: "we will never give up Northern Cyprus" |
| 2010-10-28 |
| (KUNA) -- The outcome of Turkey's recent constitutional reform referendum was a step towards EU membership, but Turkey must do more, both to protect press and religious freedoms and to resolve the northern Cyprus issue, EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule told a joint meeting of MEPs and Turkish MPs in the European Parliament. EU accession is supported by all circles of Turkish society, Turkey's EU Affairs Minister and chief negotiator Egemen Bagis, told the 65th EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting in Brussels Tuesday evening, the EP said in a statement here today. The recent constitutional reform referendum constituted "a turning point" in EU-Turkish relations, said Bagis, adding that it was difficult to explain to the Turkish public why the EU was still "delaying the accession process", despite Turkey's efforts to comply with EU requests and recommendations. Fule said the EU's 2010 progress report on Turkey to be released next month would mention positive steps such as lifting restrictions on broadcasting in other languages than Turkish, furthering judicial reform, and improving fundamental rights, but it would also voice concern about Turkey's difficulties in guaranteeing freedom of expression, press, and religion. Fule stressed that resolving the Cyprus issue was a "credibility test" for both sides. "Turkey will never give up Northern Cyprus for the sake of the European Union, but it will not give up the European Union for Northern Cyprus either," Bagis replied. Joint Parliamentary Committee Co-Chair from the Turkish sdie Lufti Elvan, reiterated that whilst businessmen from Brazil and South Korea could easily enter the EU, those from Turkey still needed to queue for visas. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 "We'll never give up the Kingpin's suitcase!" -- Big Trouble |
| Posted by: mojo 2010-10-28 14:51 |
| #2 Tipper, they are simply saying they'll play a holding action until demographics create a more islamic EU. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2010-10-28 11:12 |
| #1 "Turkey will never give up Northern Cyprus for the sake of the European Union, but it will not give up the European Union for Northern Cyprus either," Bagis replied. That statement strikes me as profoundly stupid and profoundly Islamic, but I repeat myself. |
| Posted by: tipper 2010-10-28 01:16 |