EU's rep Kretschmer launches critique of military before departure
Güncelleme Tarihi:
With one week left to go before the release of the European Union Progress Report on Turkey, EU Turkey Representative Hans Jorg Kretschmer spoke today in Ankara about reforms necessary in the system, noting that while the government seemed to want to continue reforms, the military was resisting.
Kretschmer also noted to reporters that throughout his four (4) years of service as EU Turkey representative, his many requests for meetings with top level military commanders in Turkey had been denied.
Speaking to CNN Turk prior to his departure from Ankara, Kretschmer touched on topics such as Cyprus, the controversial 301st article of the Turkish Penal Code, and the role of the Turkish military as Turkey tries to move towards EU accession. Said Kretschmer, "if Turkey does not take some steps on the question of the ports, the European Council will not be able to proceed as though nothing is the matter. It is doubtless that this will affect talks. The opening up of land and sea ports was a pre-condition for accession talks, and the Finnish suggestions were a positive opportunity for a solution."
Kretschmer also noted in his interview that Turkey had made great steps over the past four years, but that outside influences had been critical in these steps, and that domestic dynamics were slowing things down in recent months. Kretschmer, who said all of his requests over past years to meet with military members had been turned down, said this "Even if there are government members who wish to take certain steps, we all know that in different sections of the country, in the state bureaucracy and among the military, there is resistance. On the one hand, there are politicians and an administration which have come about during a certain period. On the other hand, there are the powerful state organizations represented by the military, which has a particularly clear ideological stance."
Kretschmer defined his relation with the military as "not existing," going on to add "aside from one meeting I had with a low level member four years ago, I have never had an opportunity to meet face to face with any of the commanders. I have never even received a response to any of my requests for meetings."
Kretschmer leaves his job as Turkey representative to the EU Commission after a critical period which included the time during which accession talks began, Cyprus entered the general European agenda, and the eventually unsuccessful Annan Plan for peace was put forward. Kretschmer leaves Ankara for his new posting in Kabul, Afghanistan.