Turkey, EU launch Chapter 17 in accession talksDecember 15, 2015 - 14:23 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey and the EU have opened another avenue of negotiations regarding Turkey's accession into the bloc. Turkey's long-stalled EU ambitions have been boosted by Europe's desperation on issues like refugees, Deutsche Welle reports. "The opening of Chapter 17 is part of the re-energizing of Turkey's accession process as agreed at the EU-Turkey summit in November," Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said in a press conference on Monday, December 14. Luxembourg currently holds the EU's rotating presidency. Chapter 17 focuses on economic and monetary policy, with bolstering the independence of Turkey's central bank a pre-condition to Monday's move. Turkey's EU delegation tweeted this message: “Positive momentum in Turkey-EU relations continues with the opening of Chapter 17.” "It is a good day for a peaceful development in our neighborhood … Turkey has a vast interest in working together with us," the EU's enlargement commissioner Johannes Hahn said. "I think we all realize better now that close and positive Turkish-EU relations is essential ... for the region as a whole," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said. Disagreements over Turkey's rights' record, its democratic credentials, and especially its troubled ties with EU-member Cyprus are among the major impediments to EU accession. Ankara has not opened its ports and airports to Cyprus, which is divided between Turkish and Greek Cypriots. Only Ankara recognizes Turkish northern Cyprus internationally. Owing to Cyprus, the EU decided in 2006 to suspend negotiations with Ankara on eight of the 35 chapters, including key themes like the free movement of goods, freedom to provide services, customs and external relations. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | International cybercrime ringleaders arrested in Armenia, Ukraine Europol, Europe's crime agency, has arrested four ringleaders of several cybercrime networks that used botnets. Armenia skips CSTO Defense Ministers meeting A meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization countries began in Almaty. Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenia, U.S. customs authorities to boost assistance with new deal The government has approved an agreement with the U.S. government on mutual assistance between the customs authorities. |