Brussels, 21/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - Speaking before the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz set out his government's national programme for adopting the acquis communautaire and its economic reforms programme, says a Parliament press release. Regarding freedom of expression, Mr. Yilmaz remarked that in Turkey there were currently 400 private television stations, and that 80% of them were opposed to the government. During the debate, Alain Lamassoure (French, EDF, rapporteur on Turkey) regretted that the programme did not comprise a timetable for amending the Constitution and for the respect of human rights, whereas German Green Daniel Cohn-Bendit, head of the EP's delegation for relations with the Turkish Grand Assembly, deplored the exceptions in the provisions governing the abolition of the death penalty (Mr. Yilmaz noted that it would be maintained for acts of war and terrorist acts, but that Turkey had already made a great leap forward). Our criticisms are meant to be constructive, noted the CDU member, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
As for Cyprus, the rapporteur, Jacques Poos, Luxembourg Socialist, rejected accusations of partiality leveled against him (see EUROPE of 20 June, p. 3, as well as below), and Cohn-Bendit asked Mr. Yilmaz if Turkey intended putting pressure on the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to bring him back to the negotiating table. The Turkish Cypriot side has made the most complete proposals for a resolution to the question of Cyprus, and it has Turkey's backing, said Mr. Yilmaz, repeating that the accession process to the EU did not facilitate a settlement of the conflict. Turkey intervened in Cyprus "to protect our fellow-citizens", and, "whether the world recognizes it or not, there is a Turkish State in Northern Cyprus", he added.