Turkish Foreign Ministry denounces EP’s critical report

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Foreign Ministry officials denounced a critical report on Turkey passed Wednesday in the European Parliament, saying it was biased and influenced by individual parliamentarians' domestic concerns.

'While partially referring to the positive steps taken in the field of reforms in our country, [the report] essentially takes a one-sided stance and includes elements that do not correspond to the realities and hence are not acceptable to us,' the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The report, prepared by Turkey rapporteur Ria Oomen-Ruyjten, takes the stance that accession talks with Turkey that began in 2005 are only 'the starting point for a long-lasting and open-ended process.'

It criticizes Turkey for its 'slow progress' in 2010 on reforms and human rights issues such as gender equality and freedom of religion and the press, particularly in light of a wave of recent arrests of journalists in Turkey.

The resolution also calls on the Turkish government to more actively support negotiations towards a resolution of the Cyprus issue, which continues to be a major obstacle to the opening of new chapters in membership talks for Turkish accession to the EU.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry blamed the 'domestic political considerations of a limited number of MEPs representing certain member states' for the tone and content of the report.

'There are presuppositions and prejudices regarding the Cyprus issue and freedom of the press. It is impossible for us to accept these,' said Turkey's chief EU negotiator, Egemen Bagis, M&C reported.