DEPUTY
PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF TURKEY :
Abdullah Gül TURKEY: DELIVERING ON REFORM The
current majority Government in Turkey established by the Justice and
Development Party has recently concluded its first year in office. The
across the board reforms that the Turkish Government has set its
imprint on during the course of this past year alone speaks volumes in
itself. Turkey has recorded great strides of both symbolic and
substantial significance for its people as well as for the region and
Europe as a whole. Accordingly, we take great
pride in the fact that the international community identifies us as a
reformist Government. Indeed, my Government has delivered without
default on its pledge to realize political reforms of an historic
nature designed to upgrade and enhance democratic standards in Turkey.
We accomplished this major task with the strong support of all segments
of Turkish society, including the opposition in Parliament, the media,
NGO's and the traditional institutions of the country.
These reforms have harmonized Turkish
legislation with that of the EU Acquis in a broad range of areas from
fundamental rights and freedoms to civilianmilitary relations, from the
abolition of the death penalty to full transparency and accountability
of public expenses and from religious to cultural
rights. Moreover, the public
administration reform intends to decentralize and modernize the
government and thereby enhance its effectiveness. Turkey has also
become party to the European Conventions on corruption. New legislation
in the areas of access to information and public personnel ethics are
further steps towards greater transparency. My
Government is aware that this process is a continuous one aimed at
attaining perfection. What has been achieved this far is not merely an
end in itself but a sequence of successive reform. Thus the political
will we have displayed in carrying out these legislative reforms bears
testament to our resolve to ensure effective and uniform
implementation. Political reform in Turkey has been complemented by a
similar process in the economic sector. Structural reforms
in the economy are already bearing fruit. Economic stability has
increased with the continuation of the disinflation process, whereby
inflation rates have fallen to their lowest level in years.
Modernization of Turkey's market regulations and institutions are being
advanced. Moreover, further incentives have been introduced to
facilitate foreign direct investment in Turkey. Macroeconomic
indicators herald a stable economic environment with economic growth
reversing its negative trend to a figure around %7.
The Turkish Government has also been visible
in its foreign policy orientation to contribute towards regional and
international peace and stability by adopting a problem solving
approach. Relations with neighboring countries Greece, Bulgaria and
Syria, trouble ridden for the last decades, have excelled in all fields
and are flourishing in the better interests of all. We seek to
contribute to the restoration of stability in the Caucasus through the
regular meetings I hold with my colleagues from Azerbaijan and Armenia.
We were swift in extending a helping hand to the transitional
administration in Georgia following recent political developments in
this neighboring country. As one of the rare countries with excellent
relations with both Palestine and Israel, Turkey is in a unique
disposition to constructively contribute to peace and stability in the
Middle East. New Turkish initiatives to implement the Road Map and
alleviate the political and economic predicament of the Palestinians
are in the pipeline. We pursued a responsible and constructive policy
to preserve regional peace and stability as well as the welfare of the
people of our neighbor Iraq both before and after the war. Turkey
provides the main artery of humanitarian assistance to Iraq. We will
continue to contribute to the reconstruction of Iraq and the
restitution of political stability in this country.
My Government strongly encourages the
resumption of talks between the Turkish and Greek Cypriots following
the elections in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the coming
days. I urge all other parties concerned to contribute to a just and
lasting solution of the Cyprus problem; a solution that will safeguard
the rights and security of the Turkish Cypriots and prevent their ever
having to endure similar tragedies as those of the past. Following such
a solution, our vision for the future entails a perspective in which
Turkey, Greece and the island of Cyprus will constitute a firm
foundation of the EU in the region as well as a pillar of stability and
prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean. I
would like to draw attention to the fact that the policies outlined
above have been pursued resolutely despite the ramifications of a war
on our doorstep in neighboring Iraq, the residue of an economic crisis
of last years and the global threat of the phenomenon of terrorism.
It is indeed gratifying to see that there is a
growing awareness within Europe of the strategic, economic and cultural
depth and breadth that Turkey will bring to the EU with its membership.
Turkey's economic potential and human resources is increasingly
regarded as the asset that it is, rather than burden by a great number
of astute and far sighted European statesmen, businessmen,
intellectuals and the like. It is also widely acknowledged that Turkey,
which is one of the actors of the TransAtlantic link, has also
contributed to the development of the European Security and Defense
Policy and proved to be a net contributor in the field of European
defense capabilities. Next year, the European
Council is expected to adopt a decision to commence accession
negotiations with Turkey without delay. The initiation of negotiations
will represent the beginning of a next phase in the process of
accession. Turkey will assume a responsible and patient stance during
the negotiations once they start. Turkey is
the living proof that a Moslem society can be governed in a democratic,
accountable and transparent manner in accordance with European norms
including rule of law and gender equality. Turkey testifies to the fact
that European values indeed transcend geography, religions and
cultures. Turkey's membership in the European Union will undoubtedly
contribute to global harmony. The fact that the NATO Summit and the
Organization of the Islamic Conference Ministers of Foreign Affairs
meeting will be held in Turkey next year displays how the best of both
worlds coincide in a country which bridges different continents and
cultures. In a period in which phenomena such
as war, terrorism, poverty, illegal migration, religious and ethnic
discrimination and fanaticism, environmental pollution, epidemic
diseases, narcotic drugs threaten the international community at large,
the accomplishments of the Turkish Government are a call to both the
West and the East.
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