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Euro-MPs criticise Turkey's progress on reforms

09 March 2011, 22:32 CET

(STRASBOURG) - European lawmakers on Wednesday criticised Turkey's "slow progress" in making reforms needed to pursue its bid to join the European Union, saying it was not "a true pluralist democracy."

The European Parliament adopted a resolution stating what was needed was "comprehensive constitutional reform which would transform Turkey into a true pluralist democracy founded on protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms."

Among the obstacles in Ankara's path to joining the European bloc, the lawmakers cited the impasse over the question of Cyprus, the "confrontations" between the political parties, and "the deteriorating freedom of the press" including self-censorship by the Turkish media and on the Internet.

As in the past, MEPs were divided over whether the Muslim-majority European nation should be allowed to eventually join the EU.

As a compromise, the resolution said that the opening of negotiations, begun in 2005, was a point of departure for a long process with the outcome "remaining open".

Ankara quickly denounced the resolution saying it failed to recognise "the positive steps by our country with regard to reforms... does not reflect reality and that we cannot accept (it)," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.

"No one should doubt our determination to progress toward our objective of participating in the EU," it added.

EU enlargement commissioner Stefan Fuele admitted that negotiations with Turkey had recently slowed, largely due to the issue of Cyprus, whose Greek Cypriot government belongs to the EU while the breakaway Turkish Cypriot region is backed by Ankara.

"Turkey still has a lot to do," Fuele said.

Further information, European Parliament:

Adopted text will be available here (click on 09.03.2011)


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