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Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Baszn Özeti Delay in National ~~~_~r~gram .~isappoints EU • As the government declares a further delay in the presentation of the National Program, EU diplomats in Ankara say the second decision to declare national program at a later date is met with disappointment and anger • An EU diplomat remarks that Turkey has been heading in a dangerous direction as. the climate in Europe could quickly turn against Ankara after general elections in major EU countries -- Germany, France, Britain -- and he adds that Turkey should use the opportunity • Despite negative signals from many EU diplom~ts in Ankara, an influential ambassador of an EU country said no candidate country has presented its national program until the framework regulation and financial package have been approved by EU institutions . Selcuk Gultasli Ankara - TUrkish Daily News As the coalition partners once again postponed a possible compromise on substantial issues such as Kurdish TV. broadcasting and the abolition of capital punishment, European Union member countries have started to react in.a stronger way to the delays in the National Program . .At the last meeting of coalition partners on National Program on Dec. 12,the leaders had agreed to discuss the most sticky issues of Kurdish TV broadcasting, the place of National Security Council in Turkish politics, the abolition of capital punishment during the meeting that was held yesterday. Apparently, leaders once more have not been able to agree the most difficult issues further delaying the announcement of the National Program. EU diplomats in Ankara have told the Turkish Daily News that the delay in the preparation of the National Program have both angered and disappointed friends of Turkey in Europe. While the EU expected Turkey to present its National Program at the end of last year and made its wish clear by its statements, Turkey chose to delay the process amid many excuses, said the diplomat. When the coalition leaders last month decided to postpone the debate on the substantial issues of the National Program, it was reported that the stance was a reaction to the Nice Summit conclusions which excluded Turkey from its restructuring plans until 2010. Referring to similar arguments, EU diplomats argue that EU member countries that think Turkey would contribute a lot to the EU - and should be a part of it - have been extremely disappointed by Ankara's actions. Stressing that the EU has serious difficulties in trying to understand the motives of the government, a diplomat said: "The process is a dangerous one for Turkey. There are strong countries in EU who really and sincerely want Turkey to be a part of EU. However, their expectations have not been met yet. On the contrary they have been disappointed by the actions of the government that has delayed twice the National Program." EU sources say unless Turkey hastens its efforts to submit the National Program and then start the accession talks, the climate which is favoring, Turkey right now in Europe may change after the general elections in major countries like Germany, France and Britain. "We are trying to understand the logic of the game in Ankara. We are confused for the time being, but in any case Turkey is losing time," said a diplomat. Referring to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's statements in the wake of the Helsinki Summit in Dec. 1999 by which Turkey was declared a formal candidate, diplomatic sources they éould not understand what happened to the enormous euphoria and the wilf for being a mem~er. Another diplomat said EU has shown its will to include Turkey in the club by declaring the Accession Partnership Document, .which he called "a real political engagement." The same diplomat said, "Instead of a reciprocal political engagement from Turkey in terms of presentation of its National Program, we come across many excuses each day." Stressing that it was apparent that there was no consensus among coalition partners regarding the sticky issues of the program, the diplomat said he feared the National . Program presented could be a minimalist one in terms of the document requirements. "After so much wrangling and debate, the paper that will come out could well be a minimal one being far from fulfilling the APD criteria." said the diplomat. Another diplomat said they found the statement by the government that they would work on some techn,icalities a rather simplistic explanation for the delay. "It is a less satisfaàory development than we 74
Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Baszn Ozeti expected. The ball is in Turkey's court and it is in Turkey's interest to move ahead quickly rather than hiding behind excuses," said the same diplomat. Despite negative arguments from many EU diplomats in Ankara, an influential ambassador among EU circles emphasized that no candidate country has presented its national program until a legal framework and financial package have been approved by EU institutions. Stressing that one should not downplay the progress Turkey made on a sensitive topic likethe National Program, the same diplomat said the National Pr~~am draft was a very solid document and added that the process was "a very natural and normal one. Ankara: No delay in the preparation of National Program Amid the criticisms from EU circles, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has remarked that there was no delay in the preparation of the National Program. Stressing that there has been no date set for the presentation of the Program, the spokesperson of the Ministry, Huseyin Dirioz, said there was no delay whatsoever. He also underlined that all the candidate countries have presented their national programs after the framework regulation was approved by the European Parliament. Meaning, he believes, the EU has not yet finished its part of work for the National Program. Meanwhile TUSIAD (Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association) has issued a written statement asking the government to include all necessary political reforms to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria in the NationalProgram. The statement said the efforts to portray the Copenhagen Criteria as a tool to weaken Turkey was nothing more than a real obstacle in the way to fully reform the country. Kurdish issue poses obstacle to EU • Leaders have reached a consensus on 312 and capital punishment but Bahceli is still resistant on Kurdish TV and education. The General Staff, on the other hand, agrees to soften its stance on the issue provided that certain conditions are maintained. As for Cyprus, there is no change in attitude Opinion by Mehmet Ali Birand mb irand @att~l oba1.net The Leaders Summit did not produce the results expected by a certain segment of society and by the market. What was expected was a full consensus between the leaders on the National Program necessary to create a new Turkey. The impression we had from the authorities participating in the summit meeting is that the completion of the Program will probably take place nextspring. But there is no point in despairing. The first two steps have already been taken. Now we have the Kurdish issue, which is still unsolved. In the meantime, the meeting provided some interesting points. For instance, the National Program will never be handled in leader's summit meetings. It will be directly addressed by Cabinet. And the Program will not be debated by the National Security Council (MGK) either. Only those parts of the Program concerning security issues will be on the MGK agenda. In this way, the criticisms pertaining to the proposed changes in the MGK's status will have been blocked. And here is the current situation of certain issues of sensitivity: • Abrogation of 312 Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli stated his reservations regarding the issue, but as a result of his partners Bulent Ecevit and Mesut Yilmaz's insistence, he conceded to its abrogation in the medium-term in a manner that will "observe the values protected by this Article and be in line with EU standards." 75
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