Turkey could emerge stronger from its political crisis if all sides in the EU candidate nation showed responsibility and respected democratic principles, the European Union's enlargement chief said on Wednesday. Turkey is mired in political strife after its top court declared the first round of last week's presidential election invalid.
The Islamist-rooted ruling AK Party has called for early parliamentary elections to break the impasse. "Turkey must emerge from the crisis by its own efforts and in full respect of democratic principles ... but it could emerge with a better democratic framework than before," EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn told Reuters in a telephone interview.
"A new parliament and a new president will have a chance to relaunch the reform process," Rehn said. Critics say reforms needed for Turkey's EU membership have slowed over the past two years amid a rise in nationalism and disputes over Cyprus, human rights and other sensitive issues.
Turkish public support for joining the EU has also fallen sharply. Rehn declined to comment directly on AK Party proposals for constitutional reform which include direct elections of the president. Parliament currently elects the head of state. The AK Party says the changes would bring greater democracy to Turkey.
Rehn stressed the importance of EU solidarity with Turkey at a sensitive and difficult time for the country. "We have a legitimate right to be concerned about the democratic development of an EU candidate nation," he added.
Turkey began its EU membership talks in October 2005 but the bloc suspended discussions last December in eight of the 35 chapters, or policy areas, it must work through due to Ankara's refusal to open its ports to EU member state Cyprus.
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