EU supports steps to bring peace and prosperity to southeastern Turkey

28 May 2013 /SELÇUK GÜLTAŞLI, BRUSSELS – Zaman – Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Štefan Füle on Tuesday met with the co-chair of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Selahattin Demirtaş in Brussels.

Füle and Demirtaş discussed recent political developments in Turkey, notably the settlement process, which was launched by the Turkish government with an aim to end the decades-old Kurdish conflict, the drafting of a new civilian constitution, new legal changes that passed recently and the need for further reforms to consolidate democracy in the country.

“I reiterated our decisive support for the peace process. Ending terrorism is a key objective which will allow the Kurdish issue to be solved, bringing peace and prosperity to southeastern Turkey,” Commissioner Füle said after the meeting. “I stressed once more that the EU stands ready to assist, including through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), in turning the eventual peace deal into opportunity for the whole South East of the country,” he continued and added: “I consider the BDP as an important and constructive stakeholder in the peace process and in the continuation of reforms.”

Commissioner Füle underlined that the accession process is inclusive and requires participation of all the relevant stakeholders. He recalled that the EU remains the benchmark for reforms in the country and has welcomed the positive new momentum in relations between the EU and Turkey.

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