No Toleration For Obstruction of Turkeys E.U

Turkey signaled that "the reform process will be intensified" after Brussels laid out the deficiencies in front of Turkey while praising Turkey's determination in the reforms during the meeting of Turkey-EU Partnership Council the other day.

After his intense bilateral meetings the previous day, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul held a press conference prior to his departure for Moscow where he will join a delegation from the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).

Gul said that previously Turkey could not knock on the door of EU because of its deficiencies in the reform process; however, now the time has come for Turkey to start pounding on the EU's door. Gul insisted that the deficiencies would be removed as soon as possible and that Turkey would not tolerate those who try to hinder the reform process.

"We won't risk this issue," said Gul. "We definitely will not tolerate those who hinder us. We will closely monitor the implementation. A group of Reform Watchers will meet more frequently and will immediately intervene if the implementation begins to go astray."

Gul also talked about the case of Leyla Zana, the former parliamentary member from the Democracy Party (DEP), which the EU is constantly underscoring.

"The vision of the government on this issue is like 'If only this thing were over and done with and Turkey could get rid of this problem.' However we, as a government, don't have the authority to exert pressure on the judiciary."

Gul admitted that the EU's critiques about the National Security Council (MGK) having representatives in The Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) and the non-existence of any state TV-radio broadcasts in languages other than Turkish were justifiable.

Previously, Gul met with E.U. Enlargement Commissioner Günther Verheugen the other day in the context of the Partnership Council. Gul demanded from Verheugen that the EU complete the Cyprus package before the EU summit on 17-18 June.

Ankara wants the package to be discussed as soon as possible so that Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) can take full advantage of the summer tourist season and so that the package is not thinned out by being constantly delayed. EU sources are saying that the package will be publicized by the end of June.

In the mean time, Gul said he did not even allude to the EU recognition of Greek-Cyprus. Gul maintained that there was no possibility that the Greek-Cypriots could derail a possible positive conclusion related to Turkey at the EU Summit. (SG/YE)