Stefan Fule: EU should show full commitment to Turkey's processOctober 15, 2010 - 14:51 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - European Union member states should show full commitment to Turkey's process of joining the bloc and offer nothing less than full membership, its enlargement chief Stefan Fule said. Turkey started membership negotiations with the EU in 2005, but talks have progressed slowly. The pace was partly due to reforms required in the country, and to stalemate on divided Cyprus, an EU member state where Turkey maintains occupation troops and refuses to grant access to Cyprus-flag ships and aircraft to its ports and airports. There is also wariness in some EU states at the prospect of admitting Turkey, a relatively poor country of 72 mln Muslims bordering Iraq, Iran and Syria. "On the side of the European Union it should be 100% commitment (to) the rules of the game we have adopted when we decided on the mandate for accession," Fule said in Cyprus. EU critics, led by France and Germany, say cultural differences will make it too difficult to integrate Turkey into the bloc. France has blocked talks on five negotiation areas which it says imply eventual membership. "I don't think it is useful for any negotiations if in the middle of the game you start to question the rules," Fule told reporters in Nicosia, Financial Mirror reported. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. |