NETHERLANDS MEETING SPOTLIGHTS TURKEY’S EU BID

Turkey’s Ambassador to The Hague Tacan Ildem stated that the Turkish government was pursuing its political, economic and social reforms with great resolve. Senator Wim van Eekelen, a Liberal Party MP, remarked that the Turkish National Security Council’s (NSC) role in civilian politics should not be regarded as an obstacle to democracy since it is only an advisory institution. He recalled that Portugal also had a similar institution when it became an EU member.