Ergin criticizes EU

Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin on Monday criticized the EU for its stance on Turkey in membership talks. Speaking at a conference organized by the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) at the European Parliament, Ergin criticized the fact that the EU had still not informed the Turkish Justice Ministry on the official opening criteria of the chapter on judiciary and fundamental rights. Ergin also likened the EU to "a doctor asking why a patient does not use the required medication but without writing out a prescription." Referring to the ongoing efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Kurdish problem in Turkey, Ergin said, "With a new resolution process on the agenda, for the first time a change has emerged to solve the security problems without cutting the acceleration of democratic transformation and broadening the fields of freedom and upgrading the democratic standards at the same time."