Turkey is about to fillful political criteria

A seminar entitled, "European Union," was held with the cooperation of Diyarbakir Chamber of Commerce and Industry within the scope of project named, "European Horizons on Anatolian Sky" carried out by coordination of the Association of Aegean Industrialists and Businessmen with finance of the EU.

Kretschmer who attended the seminar said that Turkey’s adjustment to political criteria was an important factor in setting a negotiation date for the country, and stated that Turkey has succeeded in many things in meeting political criteria so far.

Touching on seven reform packages which were passed in Turkey in the last two years, Kretschmer said that adjustment laws which were passed especially after the latest general elections, were very impressive.

Stating that Turkey passed laws against torture and those laws were promising, Kretschmer said that laws which foresaw education and broadcast in languages excluding Turkish were also passed. Kretschmer added that there were also important developments regarding fundamental freedoms, human rights and freedom of expression in Turkey.

Kretschmer said that there were some shortcomings in fully meeting political criteria in Turkey and stated that one of those issues was related to implementation of laws which were passed.

Kretschmer said that the aim was not only to pass laws, but those laws should be put into practice in a way of changing daily lives of people and stated that there were also some issues which should be done in effectiveness and independence of judiciary. He said that Turkey should determine a different strategy in Southeastern Anatolia Region and develop socioeconomic level of this region.

Stressing that the government was exerting great efforts to make implementations in Turkey equal to implementations in the EU, Kretschmer said that if Turkey settled stable and liberal democracy after reforms that could be considered as revolution, Turkey could join the EU.