Euro MP notes concern

Concerns have been raised by the head of a joint Turkish-European committee over the closure case recently opened against the country’s pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party, or DTP, and the government’s policy regarding the Kurdish issue.

The head of the Turkish-European Union Joint Parliamentary Committee, Joost Lagendijk yesterday met with the leader of the DTP, Ahmet Türk, in Parliament. Türk claimed if the party was closed by the court, his party would vacate its seats in Parliament. Lagendijk told him the committee were following the developments with concern, the Hürriyet Daily News learned.

DTP closure case
A public prosecutor launched proceedings several months ago to shut down the DTP on claims the party has become a center of activities aimed at damaging the independence of the state and the indivisible integrity of its territory.

"If our party is closed down the bridge will collapse. In that case, we are seriously considering abandoning Parliament," Türk told Lagendijk.

During the meeting, Türk argued that the government’s approach toward the Kurdish problem was "nationalist" and "chauvinistic," saying that the "love it or leave it" rhetoric of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan further escalated the tension. For his part, Lagendijk said, "We are following this process with concern. We’ll talk with him."

Lagendijk said they had the same sensitivity over the closure case filed against the DTP as the recent one against the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, adding he would share his views during a meeting with the prime minister and president. He also extended support to the strengthening of local administrations pointed out in the political document of the DTP.

Lagendijk later met with the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, Devlet Bahçeli, who complained the EU never spoke of the positive steps taken by Turkey. Lagendijk answered the EU considered the amendment to Article 301 of the Turkish penal code as well as the government’s opening to Armenia as positive steps, something which was not agreed to by the MHP, learned the Daily News.

Meanwhile, an official from Turkey’s EU-Secretariat General told business daily Referans that no policy areas or chapters were left, in response to a warning from an EU official that no chapters would be opened with Ankara in 2009 if the reforms stalled.

EU performance
"Turkey is not satisfied with the EU’s performance. We are working on meeting the opening benchmarks in the areas of taxation, social policy, competition and environment. We have an action plan for each and every opening and closing criteria. But the number of chapters that can be opened to negotiations has drastically dropped due to political hurdles," said the official, who declined to be named.

Brussels suspended eight out of 35 chapters due to Turkey’s refusal to open its sea and air ports to Greek Cyprus. France opposes the opening of five chapters on the assumption they would guarantee eventual membership.

The other obstacle, according to the same official, is that the EU has not yet sent to Turkey the screening reports of 10 chapters that need to be opened to talks. Officials expect the start of talks in the areas of free movement of capital and information society and media, pinning their hopes on the next president of the EU, the Czech Republic.