[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 77 (Thursday, June 15, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H4126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H4126]]
                         TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, next week the European Union will begin 
conducting membership negotiations with Turkey. As this process begins, 
it is important that the EU not allow Turkey to take any shortcuts. I 
am confident the European Union will insist Turkey follow all the 
proper steps and make the substantial changes necessary in many areas 
before the nation could ever be accepted.
  To date, I do not believe Turkey has made substantial and meaningful 
progress in many of the areas that are of concern to members of the 
European Union. Despite making commitments for its membership 
negotiations, Turkey's lack of progress in adhering to essential 
democratic principles is of great concern. It continues to be in breach 
of the pace and standards set forth under initial agreements with the 
EU. In fact, the EU has prepared a report criticizing Turkey's reform 
process.
  During next week's meetings, the European Union must demand answers 
from the Turkish government as to why the nation is not meeting 
benchmarks it agreed to in order to receive EU consideration. The EU 
must also begin to seriously explore Turkey's continued disregard for 
improving fundamental freedoms within its boundaries, freedoms that are 
commonplace throughout the European Union.
  There is no question Turkey is going to be forced and should be 
forced to make dramatic improvements in these areas before it can ever 
be considered for EU membership. The EU must also consider Turkey's 
relations with its neighbors. I remain a vocal critic of Turkey's 
treatment of both Armenia and Cyprus, and believe that these issues 
must also be addressed during next week's discussions.
  Mr. Speaker, I am deeply concerned about Turkey's lack of progress in 
the diplomatic recognition of Armenia, the removal of its blockade 
against Armenia, and ending its official policy of denial of the 
Armenian genocide by coming to terms with it, an irrefutable historical 
fact affirmed by an increasing number of EU member states and European 
institutions.
  Turkey's refusal to acknowledge the systematic killing of 1.5 million 
Armenians has no limits. Just last month, Turkey pulled out of a NATO 
exercise because the Canadian Prime Minister used the term ``genocide'' 
in reference to the massacre. Prior to that, the Turkish Ambassador to 
France was temporarily removed from the country as an act of protest 
against a French law making it illegal to deny the Armenian genocide.
  This type of behavior goes on and on. Five journalists who criticized 
a court's decision to cancel a conference on the genocide were 
arrested. A leading Turkish novelist, Orhan Pamuk, was also arrested 
and charged with insulting Turkey's identity for referring to the 
Armenian genocide. Clearly, Turkey's protection of the fundamental 
freedoms of a democracy is simply inadequate.
  Now, meanwhile, Turkey continues to illegally occupy the northern 
third of Cyprus. In 2001, the European Court of Human Rights rebuked 
the Turkish government when the court overwhelmingly found Turkey 
guilty of massive human rights violations in a scathing 146-page 
decision. The court concluded Turkey has not done enough to investigate 
the whereabouts of Greek-Cypriot missing persons who disappeared during 
life-threatening situations after the occupation.
  The findings of the European Court of Human Rights should be taken 
very seriously by the EU, and the Turkish government should be forced 
to respond to these devastating charges before even being considered 
for membership. Turkey must also agree to once again come to the table 
and negotiate in good faith with Cyprus. Turkey simply cannot be 
admitted to the European Union if Cyprus remains divided and Turkish 
troops are still there.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in adding their support 
to a letter I am circulating with my colleague, Carolyn Maloney of New 
York. We will soon send a letter to Jose Manuel Barroso, President of 
the European Commission, to express many of these same concerns. I also 
strongly urge President Bush to personally raise these concerns with 
President Barroso.
  It is imperative Turkey's progress is measured on the basis of its 
complete accomplishment of all necessary criteria set forth by the 
European Union.

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