Ankara - European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Thursday praised reforms Turkey has made in recent years in its bid to join the European Union, but said there were still many areas where Turkey must continue to increase human rights. Speaking to the Turkish parliament after talks with President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Barroso said that Turkey had carried out "impressive changes" but that there was no shortcut to accession.
"More progress is needed on a number of key issues, such as freedom of expression, democratic primacy in civil-military relations, cultural rights, trade union rights, women's and children's rights. They are part of our common values, they are central to progress and modernity and, indeed, they are also the keys to accession," Barroso said in a speech to the Turkish Parliament.
During his speech to parliament Barroso refused to comment directly on a case currently before the Constitutional Court that could see the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) banned, as well as dozens of AKP politicians - including Erdogan - banned from politics but he earlier said he had been surprised by the case.
"We were surprised because it is not common to see this in normal stable democratic countries," Barroso said in translated comments after meeting Erdogan.
Erdogan's AKP has fought a number of battles with hardline secularists who fear that moderate Islamist moves by the party will ultimately lead to Turkey becoming an Islamic state with sharia law.
The government's moves to allow women to wear Islamic-style headscarves have proved to be the main focus point in the fight between secularists and the government and which led to prosecutors opening the closure case charging the party with "being a focal point for anti-secular activities".
Barroso specifically said that the European Union has no particular opinion on the headscarf issue.
The Commission president also said that the EU stood with Turkey in its fight against the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK).
"We stand together with Turkey in the fight against terrorism. The PKK is a terrorist organization and is listed as such in the EU list of terrorist organizations," Barroso told parliament.
"Having said that, the problems of the south-east need to be addressed through a comprehensive strategy. It should combine efforts for the socio-economic development of the region, and ensure cultural and political rights for Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin.
Barroso said he was pleased with Turkey's commitment to find a solution to the Cyprus problem noting that a solution would ease Turkeys own bid to join the union. He said the first thing Turkey should do is to implement the additional protocol that would allow ships from EU member Cyprus full access to Turkish ports.
"As you are aware, several negotiating chapters are blocked and no chapter can be closed until Turkey ensures full implementation of the additional protocol," Barroso said.
Barroso was scheduled to go to Istanbul on Friday where he was to meet Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew and the Muslim mufti of Istanbul.
