EU Warns Turkey to Step up Reforms to Avoid "Train Crash"

PanARMENIAN.Net - The stern warning came on the first anniversary of the inauguration of Turkey's accession talks and just weeks before the EU issues on Nov. 8 a crucial report on the country's progress towards EU membership, reports Deutsche Welle. Turkey faces a "train crash" in its relations with the European Union if it fails to step up democratic reforms and resolve a trade row with Cyprus, EU enlargement chief Olli Rehn said. "I want to make sure that the first anniversary (of the accession talks) is not the last one," Rehn told a news conference. "I want to work for avoiding a train crash in Turkey-EU relations." Highlighting the benefits of Turkey's EU membership, the enlargement commissioner said it would ease mounting tensions between the West and Muslim countries if Turkey carries out the necessary reforms and meets all EU criteria.



Rehn urged Ankara to pass reforms to ensure freedom of speech, a major area of concern after dozens of intellectuals were charged with denigrating the Turkish nation under a penal code article, and to grant trade privileges to Cyprus under a customs union agreement.



On the row over Cyprus, Rehn said he was hopeful that a formula proposed by the EU's Finnish presidency would resolve the stalemate. Turkey is under pressure to open its air and sea ports to the internationally recognized Cyprus government under a customs union agreement with the EU, or face a suspension of its membership talks. Ankara insists that Cypriot ships and planes will remain barred from Turkish ports unless the EU delivers on its promise to ease trade restrictions on the island's breakaway Turkish Cypriot state, recognized only by Turkey. "The Finnish formula has not been rejected by any of the parties so far, including Turkey," Rehn said. "I trust all parties sense the seriousness of the issue and try their best to find a solution."