Stefan Fule: EU should show full commitment to Turkey's processOctober 15, 2010 - 14:51 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - European Union member states should show full commitment to Turkey's process of joining the bloc and offer nothing less than full membership, its enlargement chief Stefan Fule said. Turkey started membership negotiations with the EU in 2005, but talks have progressed slowly. The pace was partly due to reforms required in the country, and to stalemate on divided Cyprus, an EU member state where Turkey maintains occupation troops and refuses to grant access to Cyprus-flag ships and aircraft to its ports and airports. There is also wariness in some EU states at the prospect of admitting Turkey, a relatively poor country of 72 mln Muslims bordering Iraq, Iran and Syria. "On the side of the European Union it should be 100% commitment (to) the rules of the game we have adopted when we decided on the mandate for accession," Fule said in Cyprus. EU critics, led by France and Germany, say cultural differences will make it too difficult to integrate Turkey into the bloc. France has blocked talks on five negotiation areas which it says imply eventual membership. "I don't think it is useful for any negotiations if in the middle of the game you start to question the rules," Fule told reporters in Nicosia, Financial Mirror reported. 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 | About 173 million drams and more than 30 beneficiary funds. "The Power of One Dram" is 4 years old In June 2020, the exclusive joint corporate social responsibility initiative of Idram and IDBank "The Power of One Dram" was launched. CSTO budget “to be adjusted due to Yerevan’s non-payment of contributions” The CSTO budget for the current year requires adjustments due to the refusal of Yerevan to pay their share of contributions. Russia sends note of protest to Armenia over envoy’s trip to Ukraine’s Bucha Russia has sent a note of protest to Armenia over the visit of Vladimir Karapetyan and Tigran Ter-Margaryan to Bucha. Armenia: Protesters march to parliament, some spend the night on street The protesters did not disperse despite heavy rain that began at around 2 a.m. local time. |