- Title: BELGIUM: EU AWAITS WORD FROM TURKEY ON PENAL REFORMS.
- Date: 18th September 2004
- Summary: (W5) BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (SEPTEMBER 18, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. GV/CU/GV: CHARLEMAGNE BUILDING - EU COMMISSION HQ; CLOSE UP EUROPEAN FLAGS; ENTRANCE OF CHARLEMAGNE BUILDING (3 SHOTS) 0.14 2. MV/PAN: TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO THE EU ARRIVING AND ENTERING BUILDING 0.30 3. GV/CU: EUROPEAN NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES ON EU-TURKEY'S PENAL LAW DISPUTE: FRENCH LE FIGARO; INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE; EL PAIS (5 SHOTS) 0.52 4. GV/MV: EU ENLARGEMENT COMMISSIONER GUENTER VERHEUGEN ARRIVING FROM MEETING; JOURNALISTS SURROUNDING COMMISSIONER (2 SHOTS) 1.00 5. (SOUNDBITE)(English) EU COMMISSIONER FOR ENLARGEMENT GUENTER VERHEUGEN SAYING: "We have a problem of timing. Commission is now working day and night to prepare the package for adoption by the commission on the 6th of october, and now we have a situation since yesterday that requires clarification. So far our assessment was based on the assumption that the penal code would be adopted before the commission makes its decisions. So my impression yesterday was that the adoption of the penal code was postponed and there is no new date for the adoption. I have asked the ambassador to get verification from his government whether and when the penal code will adopted and whether it will be substantially changed or not." (JOURNALIST TAKING NOTES) VERHEUGEN SAYING: "It concern the question whether fundamental rights and freedoms are properly implemented and protected. protected in Turkey. Therefore the Penal Code is really an essential part of the process of political reforms in Turkey, a process that we have developed together." (3 SHOTS) 2.37 6. GV: REVERSE SHOT OF TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO THE EUROPEAN UNION TALKING TO JOURNALISTS 2.41 7. (SOUNDBITE)(English) - TURKEY'S AMBASSADOR TO THE EUROPEAN UNION OGUZ DEMIRALP SAYING: "Of course we have a very intensive relationship with the European Commission. So far this relationship has been very productive. When you have such an intense cooperation, there are, from times to times, tense moments and yesterday we had a tense moment, and we have left now this tense moment behind." 3.04 8. MV: REVERSE SHOT 3.08 9. MCU/GV: TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO THE EU OGUZ DEMIRALP LEAVING BUILDING AND ENTERING CAR; CAR LEAVING (2 SHOTS) 3.24 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 3rd October 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- Country: Belgium
- Reuters ID: LVADILUSEWG1DKNBGPOG96TNRLWU
- Story Text: EU awaits word from Turkey on penal reforms.
The European Union's enlargement commissioner
summoned the Turkish ambassador for talks on Saturday
(September 18) as diplomatic wrangling over whether Ankara
will be ready to start EU accession talks went to the wire.
Commissioner Guenter Verheugen said on Saturday the
European Union had a problem of timing with Turkey's penal
code reforms, including a controversial bid to make
adultery a crime, and sought clarification from Ankara.
"We have a problem of timing," Verheugen, in charge of
enlargement, told reporters after talks with Turkey's
ambassador to the EU, Oguz Demiralp.
The Turkish government put its penal code reform on
hold late on Thursday after the centre-left opposition
blocked its efforts to include the clause criminalising
adultery.
The Commission is due to give an assessment on October
6 on whether Turkey is ready to start accession talks with
the bloc, and this has been thrown into question by
Ankara's delays to adopting the code.
"The Commission is working night and day to prepare the
package for adoption... on the sixth of October," Verheugen
said. "So far our assessment was based on the assumption
that the penal code would be adopted before the Commission
must make its decision."
He said he understood the adoption of the code had been
postponed by Ankara and no new date had been set.
"I have asked the ambassador to get clarification from
his government whether and when the penal code will be
adopted, and whether it will be substantially changed,"
Verheugen added.
Demiralp played down the significance of the dispute, but
acknowledged there had been tensions on Friday, when
Erdogan bluntly told the EU's executive not to meddle in
Turkish domestic affairs.
"Of course we have a very intense working relationship
with the European Commission," Demiralp told reporters.
"There are, from time to time, tense moments, and yesterday
we had a tense moment, and we have now left this behind."
"Our cooperation with the Commission will continue as
usual, on the basis of mutual respect and mutual
understanding," he added.
Verheugen said the Commission was determined to produce
its assessment on October 6 as planned.
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