"Ambiguity once again
Tuesday, December 6, 2005
I took part in the Nov. 28 and 29 meeting of the Turkey-European Union Joint Consultation Committee in Brussels. EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn and Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission Co-Chairman Joost Lagendjk reiterated in their speeches the views they have expressed on various occasions lately. These views can be summed up in the following manner: In Turkey not only has the reform drive slowed down but violations of freedom of expression have also become systematic, considering the court cases against Orhan Pamuk, Hrant Dink and Egitim-Sen and the fate of the Armenian conference in Istanbul. Also, apparently torture continues despite the adoption of the 'zero tolerance principle' along with police violence as seen on Women’s Day. Under the circumstances, though technical talks have begun between Turkey and the EU, these may be suspended in the future for political reasons. "
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