Praise for Speakers' conference in Malta

Turkey's Speaker Bülent Arinc said last weekend's Fourth Conference of Speakers of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliaments was an important one for his country.

Speaking through an interpreter just before going into the session yesterday week, he told The Sunday Times and a number of Turkish journalists who accompanied him on his visit that Turkey "has played a major role in establishing this parliamentary assembly and major issues have been tackled during the meeting yesterday (Friday). Today the final declaration will be published. Very important issues are taken up in this final declaration."

The Malta meeting, attended by 23 European Union member countries and accession countries, other countries of the Mediterranean and five observer countries, was the first of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly.

"Turkey has always been a member of international organisations of this sort," Mr Arinc who is the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey observed. "We are very grateful to Malta and I would like to thank the Speaker of the Maltese Parliament, Anton Tabone, and all his colleagues for the warm reception that has been extended to us."

Replying to a question on the state of democracy in Turkey, Mr Arinc said Turkish democracy has made great strides, especially in the past year. He said there had been amendments to the Turkish constitution and over a hundred laws had been amended.

"All these have contributed to enhancing basic rights and freedoms," he said. "The death penalty has been abolished. Freedom of speech has been expanded. The right to form associations, to organise, establish political parties - all these freedoms were also strengthened.

"Civilian authority has been strengthened. Major alterations have been made in this area. Civilian authority is now stronger than ever. We also have major reforms about cultural rights. People now have the right to learn their native languages and speak in their native languages. We have now guaranteed the freedom of TV broadcasting in native languages and the printing of publications in native languages."

Civil law had also been updated. "We have enacted many laws granting more and more rights to the people; democracy and legal standards have been raised. We have managed to accomplish all this in one year and, as many of the leaders of the European Union said, what we have accomplished in one year is more than has been accomplished in 40 years.

"With all these alterations and changes, Turkey is now in a position to meet all the (EU's) political criteria. By the end of this year there will be a summit meeting and Turkey will start official negotiations with the EU."

Turning to Turkey's unique experience of mixing different cultures with its Western location, Mr Arinc said: "Because of its geographical position, Turkey is like a bridge between the East and the West. It is at a point where different civilisations meet.

"Turkey may have its roots in the East but it is like a tree where the branches and the fruit are in the West although the roots may lie deep in the East. Most of the people in Turkey are of Islamic origin. They have the Islamic religion but the Muslim entity in Turkey is very modern; a very modern Moslem concept."

Looking back at the country's history, he said: "Turkey has had more than 150 years of parliamentary experience and the Turkish Constitution defines the Republic of Turkey as a democratic and lay, secular country. Not only because of our lands in Europe, but we are a full member of the European family.

"We are either the founder or a very old member of many institutions in Europe. For example, we have been a member of NATO for more than 50 years. We are a member of the Council of Europe. We are also a part of the European Security Organisation.

"Turkey has played a major role in many institutions and organisations. Undoubtedly, Turkey will play an important role within the EU with its Muslim identity. We will take our rightful place and I think Turkey will further enhance the strength of the Union with its Muslim identity. We want to prove that there will be no conflict of civilisations in the future."