The European Union in its upcoming Progress Report on Nov. 5 is expected to tell Turkey that it is not happy about political statements made publicly by high-ranking judiciary officials, stressing that it is still concerned about the impartiality of the judicial system.

While attempts at reforming the judicial system are welcomed, rhetoric similar to that used for the military, the commission is expected to criticize high-level judges and prosecutors for making public statements on political matters. EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn previously stated that there should be an absolute separation of powers, i.e., both the executive and the judiciary should not intervene in each other's domain.

The annual report is expected to praise the revision of Turkish Penal Code (TCK) Article 301, the Law on Foundations and progress on the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), but will still call on the government to step up significantly her reform pace. While sources say they are aware Turkey was very busy with Constitutional Court rulings and a closure case against the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) last year, they dub 2007 "a year of no big reforms." Still, Brussels welcomes the fact that democracy was not derailed.

The military will again be criticized in the report, which will state that high-ranking generals have continued to make political statements beyond their remit. It is not yet clear whether the commission will again refer to the accreditation problem this year; for the first time last year the commission mentioned the problem some newspapers face in entering military compounds.

On cultural rights, the report is expected to welcome the preparation for a full-day TV station that would be spared for broadcasts in Kurdish and operate within the public Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), but Turkey will be criticized for not allowing education in languages other than Turkish. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) will be strongly condemned and difficulties facing the Turkish government stemming from PKK terrorism will be referred to. Sources said they were still weighing whether to refer to the Aktütün raid and discussions surrounding it.

The report will be calling on Turkey to amend its Law on Political Parties, mentioning the closure cases against the AK Party and the Democratic Society Party (DTP). The closure cases will serve as examples "highlighting that the current laws were not enough to protect the freedom of assembly."

The headscarf will again not be in the report this year; it will only be referred to within the framework of the case in the Constitutional Court that upheld the ban at universities.

President Abdullah Gül's visit to Armenia, Turkey's critical role in the Georgian crisis and in Middle East talks (between Israel and Syria) and also as an energy route will be referred to.

On Cyprus, the report is expected to welcome the launch of talks as a crucial moment, stressing that Turkey has been supporting the process. The fact that Turkey has not opened its ports to Greek Cypriot vessels and airplanes and that normalization of bilateral relations had not taken place will also be in the report.


Todayszaman