Government and military leaders discuss reforms

The PKK has said it would not disarm without a general and unconditional amnesty.

The United States, which has pledged to cleanse Iraq of terrorist groups, is also interested in the amnesty plans and reports said it would be pleased with an amnesty that would help disarmament of the group, which is estimated to have some 5,000 armed militants in northern Iraq.

MGK structure under discussion
Top military commanders, key Cabinet members and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer met at the MGK’s monthly meeting for talks, which included restructuring the powerful council.

Turkey wants to open entry talks with the EU by the end of next year and is carrying out reforms aimed at boosting its chances for joining the 15-nation group.

The military maintains a strong influence over national policy through its presence on the MGK, a key advisory board.

In an effort to trim military influence in public and political life, the government seeks to reduce the number of military officers on the council. Five top officers now sit on the council.

The EU has repeatedly called for reducing the military’s influence in politics.

The government has said it is working on a new reform package to be presented to Parliament before a summer recess in early August.

Parliament earlier this month passed sweeping human rights reforms, including allowing private broadcasts in Kurdish, despite concern from the military that the reforms could benefit the PKK.

The ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party has made EU membership a top priority and has vowed to carry out reforms. EU nations will decide in December 2004 whether Turkey is ready to start membership negotiations.

Bureaucrats of the Secretariat-General for EU Affairs have drafted Turkey’s new National Program expected to be presented to Parliament next week. The Program, setting out Turkey’s commitments towards EU membership, was also discussed by the generals and political leaders attending Thursday’s meeting.