(zaman.com) - Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul answered the claims slow down in EU reforms.
Necessary steps will be taken in the issues of transparency and civil-army relations when the Turkish parliament opens, Gul promised, reports Trend
Gul denied the allegations that the reform process had slowed down.
Gul clarified that the transformation process of Turkey would continue with the laws to be passed in the legislative session.
He noted that the efforts to send the draft law to TBMM, expected to bring major improvements in transparency and civilian-army relations.
Gul, responding to the criticisms directed to Turkey by the Enlargement Strategy Document of the EU Parliament, said that everyone had a responsibility to bear with the Cyprus issue, Gul stated that the new laws for complying with the EU criteria would bring with it a new mentality over time.
Gul sent a 12-article reply to questions from Bursa Deputy Ertugrul Yalcinbayir European Parliaments report Clarifying the expectations and calls for reform eluding to the reforms Turkey had already made, Gul vowed to continue reform efforts.
Some Guls answers to Yalcinbayir:
Civilian-Army Relations
Efforts to write new draft-laws in areas such as transparency, ethics and civilian-army relations were initiated, are expected to bring improvements.
There has been a significant drop in the cases before the courts on matter of freedom of expression since the day the new Penal code was put into effect.
No prison sentences were given, in several visible cases.
The mentality the new law is expected to bring with it will be apparent in the course of time.
The allegations that no positive developments took place in violence against women do not reflect the reality.
Cyprus Issue
One should be reminded that t Cyprus is a political issue, which has been on the UN Security Councils agenda for more than 40 years.
Everyone must bear with these difficulties until a solution is found.
We do not share the view that the political criteria should be met in an earlier phase than within the negotiation process.
Democracy and Islam
We welcome the view of the EU Parliament that a democratic and secular Turkey will have a constructive role in the dialogue between civilizations.
We believe that our country is a living proof that Islam and democracy are compatible.
We firmly believe that Turkey will help unify the West and the Islamic world and enable the integration of European Muslims with the native population