"Thanks to Kemalism, Turkey has advanced on EU reform
By Duygu Bazoglu Sezer
Commentary by
Friday, September 09, 2005
Turkey stepped into the new millennium with a grand domestic project and international commitment: to carry out a sweeping reform of its political and economic system in order to qualify for membership in the European Union.
Turkey's formal ties with the EU (then the EEC, or the European Economic Community) began in 1964 when it became an associate member. It inched closer to membership in 1999 when the EU finally granted it candidate status. In principle, full membership seemed now to be within reach. One formidable challenge remained, however: Brussels' injunction that Turkey, like all other candidates, fulfil the so-called Copenhagen Criteria. Briefly, these amount to a liberal democratic political and economic system. "
More:The Daily Star - Opinion Articles - Thanks to Kemalism, Turkey has advanced on EU reform
