EP's Swoboda: "Turkey's active foreign policy is no substitute for reforms"

European Union leaders always urge Turkey's Democratic Society Party (DTP) to draw a clear line between the Kurdish issue and terrorism and to distance themselves from convicted terrorist PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, said European Parliament Foreign Affairs Commission Vice Chairman Hannes Swoboda yesterday. Swoboda made the remarks in Ankara, meeting with Mehmet Ceylan, the deputy head of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Commission. Ceylan said that they place great importance on EU reports on Turkey, calling recent reports positive and constructive. Stating that Turkey's stance towards EU accession is clear, Ceylan said, "We're seeking full membership. No other option is acceptable to us." Swoboda said that they have watched Turkey's active foreign policy with satisfaction but that this shouldn't be seen a replacement for the reform process.