EP commission passes report on Turkey

The European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Commission yesterday passed a Turkey report prepared by Ria Oomen-Ruijten, the EP's Turkey rapporteur. The report stressed that the government should respect pluralism, secularism and democracy while carrying out its European Union reform process, and urged the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to cooperate constructively with other political parties. The report also covered the case seeking the AKP's closure, the controversial Turkish Penal Code (TCK) Article 301, the Ergenekon probe, and the Foundations Law. Following yesterday's vote, the report will face the full EP next month. If Turkey carries out its reform process decisively, it will be a member of European Union within 10-15 years, said European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn in a published interview yesterday. Speaking to Germany's Die Welt, Rehn said that the EU is planning to open two more chapters with Turkey in June and that it is important that the EU extend support to Turkey while it is going through tough times. Asked about the case seeking the closure of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Rehn warned that this could harm the reform process.