In a move clearly intended to encourage Turkish authorities to hasten
reforms, the European Commission today noted “determined efforts and
progress of Turkey towards meeting EU criteria for accession, but that
further effort is needed”. These remarks were made on the occasion of the
publication, today, of a report on Turkey’s progress towards EU Accession.
Among numerous critical observations on the respect for human rights and
democratic norms, the report also raises concerns regarding the treatment
of
religious minorities, including Armenians. It mentions in particular that
“Non-Moslem religious minorities continue to face serious obstacles with
respect to legal personality, property rights, internal management, and a
ban on the training of clergy”. The report provides details of these
violations, and concludes: “concerning freedom of religion, the changes
introduced by the reform packages have not yet produced the desired
effects.”
The report also raises the question of anti-Armenian policies in the
educational system, mentioning “complaints that state-issued school
history
books are responsible for inducing feelings of hostility towards minority
groups” and a recent Ministry of Education a circular “requiring schools
to
organise conferences and essay competitions on controversial historical
events related to the Armenians, Greek Pontus and Assyrians.”
While the EC has consistently kept the question of recognition of the 1915
genocide off the agenda of its negotiations with Turkey, it does require
that the so-called “political criteria”, including human rights and
democratic standards, including minority rights, be fulfilled before
accession negotiations for accession can even begin. A decision on whether
or not negotiations should start will be made in December 2004.
In its report, the Commission also placed greater emphasis than in
previous
years on Turkey’s continued participation in a blockade of Armenia. Noting
that “Turkey’s border with Armenia is still closed”, it mentions some
positive developments in 2003, such as talk of a partial reopening of the
border. The EU executive also notes that “grass-roots civil society
initiatives have continued with a view to promoting closer co-operation
between Turkey and Armenia, notably under the aegis of the Turkish
Armenian
Business Development Council (TABDC).”
The Commission’s report only mentions issues which are relevant to
Turkey’s
accession to the European Union. Although Turkey’s participation in a
blockade of Armenia could not, from the EC’s point of view, hold up the
start of accession talks, Turkish policy on the matter is nevertheless
incompatible with EU policy. Turkey will therefore be required to
establish
normal neighbourly relations with Armenia before it can be admitted to
actually join the Union.
The full report on Turkey’s progress towards accession is available on the
Internet at:
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/report_2003/pdf/rr_tk_final.pdf
Report by Nicolas Tavitian: nicolas.tavitian@ulb.ac.be
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