By Martin Banks - 2nd December 2009
The current situation is difficult
Egemen Bagis
Turkey's EU affairs minister has told a parliamentary committee that a breakthrough on the Cyprus problem could be imminent.
Egemen Bagis told the foreign affairs panel he was "optimistic" of a resolution to the long-running dispute between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities on the divided island.
Turkey's EU accession is seen as being directly linked to a settlement to the problem and Bagis said he thought the leaders of the two communities could thrash out a "comprehensive solution."
"The current situation is difficult and we need all the parties involved to be motivated and encouraged to help bring about a settlement," he told MEPs.
He also told the committee that Turkey was currently a "very active" player in peace building efforts in its region, saying it was "trying to prevent fires breaking out."
"This is driven by our mutual interests and the need for more peace in the region."
Such efforts, he said, showed that Turkey could be a "good team player with the EU in preventing future conflict and wars."
His comments come on the day a parliamentary report on Turkish accession was published.
The report by Ria Oomen-Ruijten expresses "concern" about ongoing "polarisation within Turkish society and between political parties."
The MEP also calls on Turkey to "contribute actively to the comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue."
She said, "I welcome the broad public debate on a range of traditionally sensitive issues such as the role of the judiciary, the rights of citizens of Kurdish origin, the rights of the Alevi community, the role of the military and Turkey's relations with its neighbours.
"But I am concerned about ongoing polarisation within Turkish society and between political parties," said Bagis, who is also Turkey's main negotiator in its EU accession talks.
According to Oomen-Ruijten the progress in terms of firm reforms has remained limited in 2009.
She says, "Where legislation relevant to the Copenhagen political criteria is in place, its implementation continues to be insufficient, particularly in the areas of womens' rights, non-discrimination, zero tolerance of torture and the fight against corruption.
"A comprehensive and swift reform of the judiciary is therefore vital for the success of the modernisation process in Turkey.
"I am very concerned about continued restrictions on press freedom - particularly following the imposition of an unprecedented fine on a media group - as well as regarding frequent website bans.
"Certain laws continue to be misused to restrict freedom of expression," she continued. A new media law should be adopted in light of the unhealthy links between media and business interests."
Oomen-Ruijten said she "deplores the fact" that, for the fourth consecutive year, the additional protocol to the EC-Turkey association agreement has not been implemented by Turkey and "failure to do so may further seriously affect" the process of negotiations.
The deputy commends Turkey and Armenia on the efforts made to normalise relations and says that Turkey's signing of the intergovernmental agreement on the Nabucco gas pipeline sends a "strong signal."
While she welcomes the dialogue entered into by the Turkish government with non-Muslim religious communities and the Alevis she says "positive steps and gestures cannot mask the lack of real reform of the legal framework, which must enable these religious communities to function without undue constraints."
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