European Parliament adopts resolution on Turkey

To European Parliament adopted by 480 votes in favour, 64 against and 150 abstentions the Resolution for the Turkey.

Paragraph 6 of the text, which concerns the proposal for suspension of the accession negotiations, had earlier passed with 520 votes in favour, 72 against and 97 abstentions.

In particular, this paragraph points out that «since Parliament's last report, the situation has not only not improved, but has further deteriorated in terms of internal, institutional and foreign policy. It therefore emphasises that, unless the current negative trend is urgently and consistently reversed, the Commission should propose, in accordance with the negotiating framework from October 2005, to formal suspension of accession negotiations with Turkey, so that both sides can realistically review, through a structured and comprehensive high-level dialogue, the appropriateness of the existing framework and its ability to work or, if necessary, explore possible new models for future relations.

It points out that, in any case, negotiations should be conducted in good faith and should not be derailed or overturned on the basis of merely cultural or religious motives.».

Ankara rejects the European Parliament resolution

Ankara has rejected what it called the European Parliament's «one-sided and in no way objective» report on Turkey, which the European Parliament adopted on Wednesday.

The adoption of such a resolution at a time when efforts are being made to revitalise Turkey-EU relations on the basis of the prospect of EU membership within a positive agenda is «unacceptable», the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

«We reject this discriminatory document that not only contains false allegations about the human rights, democracy, the rule of law, our governance structure and political parties, and considers Turkey's effective, solution-oriented, humanitarian and business-oriented foreign policy a threat, but also reflects the totally unfair and biased Greek and Greek Cypriot arguments on the issues in the Aegean, Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus and supports the one-sided and contradictory Armenian narratives on the events of 1915,» the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry stressed that Turkey's accession to the EU is a strategic goal of Ankara and will benefit the whole of Europe and beyond, adding that Turkey will «resolutely» continue its efforts based on this goal.