MEPs encourage EU progress for Turkey

12.00.00am GMT Wed 27th Sep 2006

Commenting on the European Parliament vote on a report on Turkey's progress towards EU accession, Liberal Democrat MEP for London Baroness Sarah Ludford said:

"In giving clear support to the accession talks while also stressing the extent of the changes Turkey has to undertake, this report should encourage Turkey's pro-EU modernisers."

"For a top Turkish general to insist that the army still stands ready to intervene, in defiance of EU demands that it keeps out of politics, is a badly-timed provocation."

"And we must see an end to the string of prosecutions of writers for 'insulting Turkishness' if they write about Kurds or Armenians. Freedom of expression will serve Turkey, like other European countries, much better."

"But it would also have been a provocation for MEPs to have demanded that Turkey recognises, as a precondition of accession, Ottoman 'genocide' against the Armenians. I'm glad that demand - designed by those who do not want to see Turkey become an EU member - was dropped, although I do want genuine historical research to be boosted."

"Sadly, MEPs missed the chance to strengthen the search for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. The EU still needs to fulfil its commitment to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community."

"I remain convinced of the utmost importance of bringing Turkey into the European Union, politically and economically and to debunk the myth that Europe and Islam don't mix. Turkish accession will also assist the EU to be serious in building a common foreign, security and defence policy."