Turkey Needs to Improve Rights of Ethnic Minorities: EU Representative

Yesterday marked the fifth anniversary of Turkey’s start of talks with the European Union for full membership. 

Although Turkey has made groundbreaking reforms during the process, the talks are progressing extremely slowly in what increasingly seems to be an ordeal. Opposition from some politicians within the EU in particular French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Turkey’s membership has not exactly been encouraging. 

However, European politicians that support Turkey’s membership call on the country to push ahead with its reforms, praising the change the Turkey has undergone during the negotiations.

European Parliament Rapporteur on Turkey Ria Oomen-Ruijten, reports Today’s Zaman, congratulated Turkey, Turkish society and the country’s politicians for the democratization and modernization which has taken place over the last five years.

Oomen-Ruijten said the motivation that Turkey has for more democracy is much more important than opening technical negotiating chapters. 

“It is very important that the government and opposition, together with civil society, combine and redouble their efforts to make Turkey a more democratic and prosperous country. This has been my message in each and every progress report.”

However, she said there was still a long way to go and much that needs to be done before the country is ready for full membership. 

She noted that the Copenhagen criteria remain the cornerstone of EU integration and that to fulfill this, Turkey needs to improve the rights of all citizens, irrespective of gender, ethnic origin or religious belief, whether they be Alevi, Christian, Kurdish or Armenian. 

Furthermore, she said, “Turkey… should do everything possible to support the negotiations between 

the two communities on Cyprus.”