EP president says EU needs Turkey

ANKARA (A.A) - European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek said on Thursday that the EU needed Turkey, and Turkey needed the EU.  Buzek addressed the Turkish parliament and said, "in the EU as well, Turkey has an important role to play. Cyprus remains the last divided country in the European Union - and we also look to you to constructively help end this dispute." "The tensions we have witnessed in the recent months between Turkey and Cyprus concern me greatly. I would like to reiterate the European Parliament's call on your government to continue to actively support the on-going negotiations between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus under the auspices of the UN Secretary General. A fair and viable settlement of the Cyprus issue on the basis of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality, as set out in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, is now urgent," he said. "In the current crucial phase of the process, all efforts and minds should focus on the comprehensive settlement, and should not be distracted from this priority. In this respect, it is indispensable that all parties do their utmost to ensure a positive climate that will facilitate a successful completion of the talks. I therefore don't want to speculate on anything else than a settlement before the Cypriot Presidency of the EU in July 2012 and I believe that this is possible given that good progress was achieved since 2008. I trust that Turkey, like the EU, will continue to give its total support in this final phase of the talks," he said. Buzek said that a solution to the Cyprus issue would bring a welcome boost to Turkey's accession negotiations. "But it will also guarantee a bright future for all Cypriots. This is in everyone's interest," he said. In regard to efforts for a new constitution in Turkey, Buzek said, "let me now turn to something I feel is very important. You have before you a truly historic opportunity, an opportunity to change your Constitution, the first Turkish constitution not to be written at a time of conflict! An opportunity to provide a framework that will protect all the citizens of Turkey and guarantee their rights and freedoms, whatever their ethnicity and belief." "I strongly support Turkey's efforts to draft a civilian constitution through an inclusive process - with the government, the opposition and the civil society. I have been impressed by the work done in this chamber to organise the debate on the new Constitution this past month. I applaud both the Speaker and the Chairpersons of all parties for this achievement. The drafting of the new constitution will not be easy but achieving it will cement your country's democratic structures. It will help transform Turkish society into a pluralistic democracy with human rights and fundamental freedoms at its core. All parties represented in this chamber should make the utmost efforts to find compromises. Once again, this is an historic opportunity, you cannot afford to fail," he said. "The European Union, and especially the European Parliament, will help you in any way it can. Earlier this year, the European Parliament passed a resolution welcoming the progress you made with reform of the judiciary, increased civilian oversight of the military and property rights of minorities. These were important steps in the right direction, significant also for the accession process," he said. "Of course, we in the EU want to see more. Friends of Turkey like myself have to urge you to speed up the pace of reform. The European Parliament has expressed concern regarding issues such as freedom of expression and of the media, freedom of religion and protection of minorities. These are issues that need to be addressed," he said. "I have said this during my recent visits to Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and I will say it again today: freedom of expression and media pluralism are at the heart of all our values - this applies to EU member states, candidate and potential candidate countries," he said. EP president said, "the acts of terror in London, Madrid and other cities in Europe will forever haunt us. There is no room for terrorism and armed struggle in a democracy. The EU has unequivocally condemned terror and is acting against it. Contrary to perceptions and some public statements made, the EU has greatly improved its cooperation with your country in anti-terrorism matters. Because we have a joint interest in stopping violence." "But the Kurdish issue is not just an issue of terrorism, it is also a more profound challenge of cultural and linguistic diversity. And an issue of economic development. And an issue of human rights," he said. "I know that the new Constitution you are drafting will be a first chance to provide a new framework for coexistence. Events this year in our neighbourhood have taught us an important lesson - people will always crave their rights for dignity, democracy and human rights, including freedom of expression," he said. "Europe and the world need a united, democratic and dynamic Turkey. A Turkey where all ethnicities, beliefs and languages coexist peacefully. A Turkey where individual rights and cultural differences are recognised and guaranteed," he said.