BBC – Türkiye-AB İlişkileri Hakkında (İng.)

CHP Genel Başkan Yardımcısı Sn. Onur Öymen’in BBC’ye verdiği demeç
15 Ekim 2006
Öymen: Probably Mr. Barroso forgot that Turkey is a democracy, and he presumes that the actual government will last 15 or 20 years, which is absolutely wrong. In the first election we believe that there will be a change of government and the new government will proceed very swiftly on the EU reforms. So, it’s absolutely against common sense to believe that Romania and Bulgaria are ahead of Turkey. In many regards –in democracy, in the economic development, free market- we are well ahead of these two countries. I understand that the purposes to delay the EU’s economic contributions to Turkey, particularly in agriculture, that’s what they lead them to think that Turkey should join the union before 15 or 20 years. This is the reality and we have to talk about realities. It would be really unbelievable that Turkey’s considered behind Romania and Bulgaria.
 We have a reform process. It is true that the government slowed down a little this process last year, but the government will probably go in the next elections next year and then the new government will speed up our efforts to complete the reforms. But even the actual situation of Turkey is not behind Bulgaria and Romania. One should agree that these two countries joined the family of democratic nations only a few years ago whereas Turkey is a multiparty democracy since 1949.
 The issue is obviously because of internal European reasons that they want to delay Turkey’s membership. There is no doubt about that. They talk about absorption capability, which means that even if Turkey fulfills all conditions, for European reasons they can delay Turkey’s membership. It is their message.

Reporter: Thank you very much Mr. Öymen.

Öymen: I thank you.