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11:14 GMT
BRUSSELS, Oct 27 (KUNA) -- The outcome of Turkey's recent constitutional
reform referendum was a step towards EU membership, but Turkey must do more,
both to protect press and religious freedoms and to resolve the northern
Cyprus issue, EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule told a joint meeting of
MEPs and Turkish MPs in the European Parliament.
EU accession is supported by all circles of Turkish society, Turkey's EU
Affairs Minister and chief negotiator Egemen Bagis, told the 65th EU-Turkey
Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting in Brussels Tuesday evening, the EP said
in a statement here today.
The recent constitutional reform referendum constituted "a turning point"
in EU-Turkish relations, said Bagis, adding that it was difficult to explain
to the Turkish public why the EU was still "delaying the accession process",
despite Turkey's efforts to comply with EU requests and recommendations.
Fule said the EU's 2010 progress report on Turkey to be released next month
would mention positive steps such as lifting restrictions on broadcasting in
other languages than Turkish, furthering judicial reform, and improving
fundamental rights, but it would also voice concern about Turkey's
difficulties in guaranteeing freedom of expression, press, and religion.
Fule stressed that resolving the Cyprus issue was a "credibility test" for
both sides.
"Turkey will never give up Northern Cyprus for the sake of the European
Union, but it will not give up the European Union for Northern Cyprus either,"
Bagis replied.
Joint Parliamentary Committee Co-Chair from the Turkish sdie Lufti Elvan,
reiterated that whilst businessmen from Brazil and South Korea could easily
enter the EU, those from Turkey still needed to queue for visas. (end)
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