In Brussels, Baykal stresses support for democratization, but decries lack of progress under EU reforms

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) is ready to support democratization initiatives in Turkey towards European standards, said CHP leader Deniz Baykal yesterday. Speaking at the European Policy Center in Brussels, Baykal said the CHP isn't responsible for its image problems in Europe, and charged that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has mishandled European Union prescriptions. Stating that EU reforms have been done according to the Union's wishes, Baykal said, "They were fulfilled in order to develop democratic life, but we can't say that the Turkish people enjoy more freedom or are safer and more European than six or seven years ago." Baykal also met with EU Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso.