LUXEMBOURG - ''The pace of change has slowed in Turkey in the last year. Significant further efforts are needed in particular regarding the implementation of the reforms,'' said the common position paper which was issued after Turkey-EU Partnership Council meeting.
The paper indicated that, ''although human rights violations are diminishing, they continue to occur and there is an urgent need to both implement legislation already in force and, with respect to certain areas, to take further legislative initiatives.''
''The Union therefore calls on Turkey to vigorously pursue its reform process and implementation in view of ensuring respect of the Copenhagen political criteria. As a negotiating country, Turkey is expected to intensify efforts towards meeting the Copenhagen accession criteria. This requires in particular ensuring steady and tangible progress throughout the different areas arising under the political criteria,'' the paper noted.
The paper said, ''on civil-military relations, while some changes have been introduced over the last year, further efforts are needed to ensure full civilian control over the military, in line with practice in EU Member States. It is essential that Turkey consolidates reforms adopted in previous years and remains committed to further reforms in this area. Turkey should work towards greater accountability and transparency in the conduct of security affairs in line with Member States' practice. In particular, public statements by the military should only concern military matters and should only be made under the authority of the government.''
''As regards the judiciary, the system has been further strengthened via the adoption of structural reforms. Judges and prosecutors have a considerable role to play in the implementation of reforms. It is therefore of crucial importance that sustained efforts continue with respect to the training of judges, prosecutors and lawyers in particular as regards their duties and obligations to respect International and European Conventions in the area of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as required under Article 90 of the Turkish Constitution,'' it said.
The paper noted, ''as regards observance of international human rights law, the Union reiterates the need for Turkey to comply with the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, including full and timely execution of all judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.''
''There has been progress in the fight against torture and ill-treatment, and incidence is diminishing. Reforms adopted in Turkey over the last years have contributed to establish a legislative and regulatory framework capable of combating effectively torture and other forms of ill-treatment. Turkey should pursue vigorously its efforts to ensure full implementation of existing legislation and to reinforce the fight against impunity,'' the paper indicated.
''As regards freedom of expression, serious concerns remain. Despite recent positive developments where prosecuted individuals were acquitted, there are still a number of cases pending against individual persons for non-violent expression of opinion on the basis of Article 301 of the new Penal Code as well as other articles,'' added the paper.
''In the area of freedom of religion no progress has been observed over the last year in terms of addressing the difficulties faced by non-Muslim religious minorities. These minorities continue to experience difficulties connected with access to legal personality, property rights, training, residence rights and work permits of Turkish and non Turkish clergy, schools and internal management. The Union urges Turkey to promptly adopt legislation addressing all these difficulties in a comprehensive manner and in full compliance with European standards. The EU urges Turkey to re-open the Heybeliada (Halki) Greek Orthodox Seminary. The Union also calls on Turkey to address the situation of the Alevi community which continues to experience difficulties in terms of recognition of places of worship, representation in relevant state bodies as well as in relation to compulsory religious education,'' the paper remarked.
''As regards minority rights, cultural rights and the protection of minorities, the Union welcomes the progress made as regards local private radio/TV broadcasting in Kurdish which started operating in some cities in the Southeast,'' the paper said and added that, ''the Union remains concerned by the high incidence of domestic violence and in particular by 'honor killings', which continue to occur in spite of the heavy penalties provided for by the new Penal Code. The Union welcomes the investigation on honor killings conducted by a parliamentary commission, and looks forward to the adoption of the relevant report. There are other sources of concern in particular the low participation in the labor market and in political life and the relatively low rate of enrolment in education especially in some regions of the country.''
''There is no tangible progress concerning trade union rights. The Union calls upon Turkey to make the necessary amendments to the laws regulating trade union rights, namely the trade unions law and the collective bargaining, strike and lockout law, in order to achieve trade union rights in line with EU standards and the relevant ILO conventions,'' it said.
-PKK VIOLENCE-
''The EU is concerned about the increasing tension in the Southeast. The situation in the Southeast has deteriorated since the resumption of violence by the PKK, which is on the EU list of terrorist organizations. The EU unequivocally condemns the action of the PKK and calls upon it to cease all provocations and violence immediately'' the paper said and noted that, ''the system of village guards should be abolished and steps taken to clear the area of landmines.''
-GREECE AND CYPRUS-
''The Union calls on Turkey to commit itself to good neighborly relations. In this context, Turkey should address any sources of friction with its neighbors and refrain from any threat or action which could negatively affect good neighborly relations and the process of peaceful settlement of border disputes. In this context, the Union encourages Turkey to intensify efforts towards the resolution of outstanding border disputes with all its neighbors in conformity with the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the UN Charter, including, if necessary, jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice.
On Cyprus, Turkey's support for efforts for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem within the UN framework and in line with the principles on which the Union is founded will continue to be essential, whilst contributing to a better climate for a comprehensive settlement.
Furthermore, the Union calls on Turkey to take concrete steps for the normalization of bilateral relations between Turkey and all EU Member States, including the Greek Cypriot Administration as soon as possible. In this context, the Union recalls its declaration of 21 September 2005.
''The Framework for accession negotiations was agreed by the Council of Ministers on 3 October 2005. In line with the December 2004 European Council conclusions this Framework sets out the method and the guiding principles of the negotiations. Additionally, the Framework underlined that the advancement of the negotiations will be guided by Turkey's progress in preparing for accession, and that this progress will be measured against the Copenhagen criteria for accession and the other requirements set out in paragraph 6 of the document, including the obligation to extend the Association Agreement to all new Member States. The Union is concerned that this obligation remains as yet to be fulfilled. In this respect, the Union recalls the Declaration of the EC and its Member States of 21 September 2005,'' the paper added.