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EP says Turkey lagging in reform in many areas

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  • EP says Turkey lagging in reform in many areas

    IRNA Iran
    April 1 2004

    EP says Turkey lagging in reform in many areas

    Brussels, April 1, IRNA -- Turkey has made many important reforms
    since last year in order to meet the political criteria for EU
    membership but still needs to go considerably further and rigorously
    implement the reforms in many areas, the European Parliament`s
    Foreign
    Affairs Committee said Thursday in a draft resolution on Turkey`s
    progress towards accession.
    The resolution calls on the Commission, as part of the
    Pre-Accession Strategy, to systematically address the shortcomings in

    the rule of law and the democratic deficit in Turkey.
    MEPs criticize the continuing influence of the army in politics,
    business, culture and education, continuing torture practices and
    mistreatment, the intimidation and harassment of human rights
    defenders, the discrimination of religious minorities and the fact
    that trade union freedom is not fully guaranteed.
    The EU itself must also be prepared, say MEPs, for Turkey`s
    possible accession and the consequent new geo-political situation for

    the EU.
    The Foreign Affairs Committee stresses again that settlement of
    the Cyprus conflict was an essential condition for progress on
    Turkey`s EU membership application.
    It also called on Turkey to reopen its borders with Armenia and
    promote good neighborly relations with that country.
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