EU's Barroso addresses parliament

European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso, on a visit to Turkey, yesterday delivered an address Parliament. "I am aware of the importance for Turkey of the debates on secularism," he said. "In Europe, various countries have experienced these kinds of debates and found solutions that are compatible with their domestic problems. Nobody should expect the EU to be a party to these debates or to impose any standard on Turkey." He added that the EU has the same stance on the headscarf debate and sees the choice of wearing a headscarf as a matter of individual choice. He reiterated that the PKK is a terrorist group on the EU's official list of such groups. Barroso also touched on government moves to give more cultural and political rights to Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin, saying, "I believe we will hear the details of these proposals very soon." Barroso hailed the recent opening of the central Lokmaci gate between Turkish and Greek Cyprus as a very positive development. He also urged Turkey to use its energy to realize the reforms required for full EU membership. "Turkey's efforts will determine the speed of its EU accession talks," said Barroso. Then Barroso and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn held separate meetings with main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal and opposition National Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli. When asked by Barroso if the CHP really favors Turkey's EU membership, Baykal said, "First, the CHP is the party that had Turkey apply for EU membership. The problem lies with the EU itself." After the meeting, Baykal told reporters that they hadn't discussed the closure case against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) or Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). Bahceli, during his meeting with Barosso, complained of EU double standards towards Turkey and said that any foreign inference in the AKP closure was unacceptable. In response, Barosso said, "EU comments on the closure case or other issues shouldn't be seen as interference. They show the EU's great interest in Turkey." Barosso and Rehn also met with Democratic Turkey Party (DTP) parliamentary group head Ahmet Turk.