Ergenekon case key to Turkey’s democratization, says Rehn

In 2009, important progress was made in regards to civilian-military relations in Turkey, EU’s outgoing Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, the nominee for the post of EU commissioner for economic and monetary affairs, said late on Wednesday while speaking at a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

During the session, titled “Democratization in Turkey,” members of the European Parliament debated Turkey’s democratization process particularly following the recent banning of the pro-Kurdish political party Democratic Society Party (DTP) by the Constitutional Court in December.

“The ongoing Ergenekon case is the key to democratization efforts in Turkey. Turkish citizens really deserve to see the finalization of this investigation and they rightfully expect a fair trial for the all suspects,” Rehn was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency.

In its annual progress report, made public on Oct. 14, 2009, the European Commission referred to the Ergenekon investigation as an opportunity for Turkish democracy. “This case is an opportunity for Turkey to strengthen confidence in the proper functioning of its democratic institutions and the rule of law,” the report said.

The murders of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink and three missionaries in Malatya were mentioned in many EU documents and referred to in the progress report. “Reports by civil society organizations and statements by witnesses, in particular regarding the alleged criminal network Ergenekon, the murder of three Protestants in Malatya and the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink cases, highlighted these concerns in specific cases. As regards the latter case in particular, a report from the Prime Ministry Inspection Board questioned the security forces’ role prior to the murder. According to the report, the security forces appeared to refrain from taking action after having received credible information about death threats against Mr. Dink. The trials in Istanbul, Samsun and Trabzon on this murder are continuing, but have not been merged, as has been requested by the lawyers representing the family of Mr. Dink,” the report said.

According to Rehn, in addition to the Ergenekon issue, citizenship rights, reforms in the field of fundamental rights and fair representation of women are the core issues concerning Turkey’s democratization.

“Freedom of expression in Turkey is not in line with EU standards,” Rehn remarked, while underlining that many journalists in Turkey are still being tried just for doing their jobs.

“The time has come and is already passing for Turkey to make necessary legal reforms in order to show that this problem belongs to the past, not to the future. Freedom of expression, which is fundamentally important for an open and democratic society, is also important for being able to hold more discussions on sensitive issues in Turkey such as the Armenian issue, the Kurdish problem and Cyprus,” Rehn was quoted as saying.

While expressing concern over the closure of the DTP, Rehn said he expected Turkey to make necessary amendments in its political parties law to bring the law in compliance with suggestions by the Council of Europe and rulings by the European Court of Human Rights.

In the eyes of the EU, Turkey can strengthen internal and regional stability as long as it becomes more democratic, the commissioner said. Calling the Turkish government’s democratization initiative, which includes expanding rights for the Kurdish population, a very important step, Rehn said this step would raise the standard of living for all citizens of Turkey.

Images from the jubilant reception of several members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) returning to Turkey through the Habur border gate in October were used by “nationalist forces as an opportunity to attack the government,” Rehn said, while voicing pleasure over the fact that the government declared its determination to go ahead with the democratization initiative despite such negative attitudes.

Spanish Secretary of State for EU Affairs Diego Lopez Garrido, whose country took over the six-month rotating presidency of the EU from Sweden on Jan. 1, also addressed European deputies during Wednesday’s discussion on Turkey.

Reiterating Madrid’s willingness to open more negotiation chapters with Turkey, Garrido cautioned that Turkey has still a lot to do in the fields of “judicial reform, fundamental freedoms, freedom of press, minority rights, women’s rights and labor rights.”

A majority of the European deputies who delivered their opinions on Turkey during the discussion focused on the closure of the DTP and expressed concern over the detention of mayors of towns in the predominantly Kurdish Southeast, Anatolia noted.