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Italian PM Condemns Killing of Ethnic Armenian Journalist
Assyrian International News Agency
Jan 22 2007
ANKARA -- Italian Premier Romano Prodi on Monday urged Turkey to
maintain its reform process for membership in the European Union
and be open to compromise on Cyprus for a lasting solution on the
divided island.
Prodi told a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart
Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Turkey should continue to work to reach
the eventual goal of EU membership.
Ahead of his visit to Turkey, the Italian prime minister condemned
the killing in Istanbul on Friday of an ethnic Armenian journalist.
"It is a very serious episode on which I hope full light will be shed,"
Prodi said in an interview with Turkish newspaper Sabah published
Monday. An Italian transcript of the interview was circulated by the
premier's office in Rome.
The slaying of Hrant Dink outside his newspaper's office shocked the
nation and highlighted the precarious state of freedom of expression
in a country that is vying for European Union membership. Prosecutors
said Sunday that a Turkish teenager had confessed to the killing.
Erdogan said the killing amounted to the "shooting of the Turkish
people," and appealed to European countries not to blame Turkey for
the attack on Dink, a prominent member of Turkey's minority Armenian
community.
"Such attacks, carried out by senseless people, unfortunately occur
in every country," Erdogan said.
During the visit, Italy and Turkey signed a memorandum aimed at
improving ties between the two countries, while Erdogan asked for
Italy's continued support in its troubled EU membership talks, which
were partially frozen last month.
Prodi was scheduled to meet with Turkish businessmen in Istanbul on
Tuesday. Turkey and Italy have growing trade relations, including
projects to ship Russian natural gas to EU countries via Greece
and Italy.
The Italian premier told Sabah that the "door to Europe remains open
for Turkey," but that Ankara must follow through with promised reforms
and comply with EU requests.
"For the process to continue rapidly it is necessary to complete the
reforms process and implement it," Prodi said. "It is important that
commitments taken with the EU be implemented without delay."
EU leaders decided last month to halt negotiations in eight out of 35
policy areas due to Ankara's refusal to open its ports and airports
to EU member Cyprus, whose government Turkey does not recognize.
"All sides should take one step back, so that one step forward can
be taken," Prodi said through an interpreter.
Turkey insists it will only open its ports and airports after steps
are taken to end the international isolation of a breakaway Turkish
Cypriot republic in the island's north.
Turkey has vowed, nevertheless, to press ahead with other reforms.
Prodi said in the interview that Turkey should continue to aim for
EU accession, dismissing suggestions that Ankara be granted a special
partnership deal instead of membership.
"I believe this objective is too important, it deserves this effort,"
he said. "In this historical phase no one must think of alternative
choices."
Assyrian International News Agency
Jan 22 2007
ANKARA -- Italian Premier Romano Prodi on Monday urged Turkey to
maintain its reform process for membership in the European Union
and be open to compromise on Cyprus for a lasting solution on the
divided island.
Prodi told a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart
Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Turkey should continue to work to reach
the eventual goal of EU membership.
Ahead of his visit to Turkey, the Italian prime minister condemned
the killing in Istanbul on Friday of an ethnic Armenian journalist.
"It is a very serious episode on which I hope full light will be shed,"
Prodi said in an interview with Turkish newspaper Sabah published
Monday. An Italian transcript of the interview was circulated by the
premier's office in Rome.
The slaying of Hrant Dink outside his newspaper's office shocked the
nation and highlighted the precarious state of freedom of expression
in a country that is vying for European Union membership. Prosecutors
said Sunday that a Turkish teenager had confessed to the killing.
Erdogan said the killing amounted to the "shooting of the Turkish
people," and appealed to European countries not to blame Turkey for
the attack on Dink, a prominent member of Turkey's minority Armenian
community.
"Such attacks, carried out by senseless people, unfortunately occur
in every country," Erdogan said.
During the visit, Italy and Turkey signed a memorandum aimed at
improving ties between the two countries, while Erdogan asked for
Italy's continued support in its troubled EU membership talks, which
were partially frozen last month.
Prodi was scheduled to meet with Turkish businessmen in Istanbul on
Tuesday. Turkey and Italy have growing trade relations, including
projects to ship Russian natural gas to EU countries via Greece
and Italy.
The Italian premier told Sabah that the "door to Europe remains open
for Turkey," but that Ankara must follow through with promised reforms
and comply with EU requests.
"For the process to continue rapidly it is necessary to complete the
reforms process and implement it," Prodi said. "It is important that
commitments taken with the EU be implemented without delay."
EU leaders decided last month to halt negotiations in eight out of 35
policy areas due to Ankara's refusal to open its ports and airports
to EU member Cyprus, whose government Turkey does not recognize.
"All sides should take one step back, so that one step forward can
be taken," Prodi said through an interpreter.
Turkey insists it will only open its ports and airports after steps
are taken to end the international isolation of a breakaway Turkish
Cypriot republic in the island's north.
Turkey has vowed, nevertheless, to press ahead with other reforms.
Prodi said in the interview that Turkey should continue to aim for
EU accession, dismissing suggestions that Ankara be granted a special
partnership deal instead of membership.
"I believe this objective is too important, it deserves this effort,"
he said. "In this historical phase no one must think of alternative
choices."