Azerbaijani official: Copenhagen criteria must be basis in matter of Turkey's joining EU

The issue on Turkey's joining EU must be addresses on the basis of the Copenhagen criteria, Azerbaijani Permanent Representative to Council of Europe Arif Mammadov said at the conference "EU-Turkey relations" organized in Strasbourg by the Congress of Turkish students in France today.

"Unfortunately, the question of Turkish EU membership is used by some European politicians for domestic political purposes. There were made speculations around this matter. Membership should be resolved on the basis of the Copenhagen criteria, but instead Turkey is demanded  to recognize the so-called" Armenian genocide," he said, the Azerbaijani permanent mission said.  

The Copenhagen criteria are the rules that define whether a country is eligible to join European Criteria. The criteria require that a state has the institutions to preserve democratic governance and human rights, has a functioning market economy, and accepts the obligations and intent of EU. These membership criteria were laid down at the June 1993 European Council in Copenhagen, Denmark. Although the issue on Turkey's joining EU has been discussed for several, the issue has not yet addresses.

Those who would politicize the historical questions, often insincere when they say that "act from a position of friendship." Despite the fact that Turkey has repeatedly taken the initiative to study this problem with a commission of historians, this proposal is rejected by Armenia, the ambassador said.

"Somehow, those politicians that require the recognition of the so-called" Armenian genocide" by Turkey, sidestep facts of Armenian occupation of the Azerbaijani lands and other horrific acts of genocide perpetrated in Khojali by Armenia. EU will benefit from Turkey's membership.

Turkey has a strong position in the region. The country also is of great importance for EU from a strategic point of view and in terms of foreign policy and common security of the structure," he said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the occupied territories.


/Trend/