Turkish envoy calls for start date on EU accession talks

Date: 17/01/02

By David Cronin

Turkey's EU ambassador is pressing for his country to be told this year when it can start formal negotiations on joining the Union.

'It is important for Turkey to know the date for accession talks before the end of this year,' Nihat Akyol told European Voice. 'I'm not saying that we have to start talks this year but we have to know the date.'

Ankara's envoy said he hoped that the talks would get underway in early 2003 and that confirmation of this would help maintain public opinion in favour of accession and ensure the cohesion of its ruling coalition.

Meanwhile, Alkin Alptuna, deputy undersecretary at Turkey's foreign ministry, said the country had already met 60 of the short and medium-term 'Copenhagen' political criteria laid down by the EU for opening accession talks. The short-term criteria would be completed in March, he added.

The Turkish parliament has recently been considering a package of far-reaching amendments, designed to overhaul the national constitution, to meet EU demands that the country embraces democratic reform.

In its annual report on Turkey, published in November, the European Commission recognised that substantial progress had been made on improving Turkey's human rights record but expressed concern over such issues as its retention of the death penalty for terrorist-related offences.

That view was echoed this week by German deputy foreign minister Gunther Pleuger who said that the human rights situation remained 'unsatisfactory'.

In reply to a parliamentary question, Pleuger highlighted concern about the torture of prisoners in police custody as well as violations of freedom of expression and minority rights.

'The Copenhagen criteria are not yet fulfilled,' he wrote.

Germany has a Turkish community of almost 2.5 million from a total population of 82 million.

Nihat Akyol, Turhey's EU ambassador, has called for the EU to tell Turkey in 2002 when it may begin formal negotiations on EU membership.