TURKEY NEEDS TO URGENTLY PUSH AHEAD WITH POLITICAL REFORMS AND OPEN UP ITS PORTS TO CYPRIOT VESSELS TO ENSURE RAPID PROGRESS WITH ITS MEMBERSHIP NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION, THE EU'S TOP NEGOTIATOR SAID FRIDAY, ACCORDING TO AP. «THERE IS A SENSE OF URGENCY,» SAID EU ENLARGEMENT COMMISSIONER OLLI REHN. «IT IS NOW THE TIME FOR TURKEY TO REGAIN THE MOMENTUM OF REFORMS.» AT A MEETING WITH TURKEY'S TOP NEGOTIATOR, REHN STRESSED THE NEED TO ENHANCE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, RESPECT OF FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS UNDER ANTI-TERROR LAWS, RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS AND CULTURAL RIGHTS. REHN ALSO SAID THE EU EXPECTED TO SEE A «COMPREHENSIVE ACTION» PLAN IN THE KURDISH-MAJORITY SOUTHEAST OF TURKEY TO «ENHANCE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT» IN THE REGION. ON CYPRUS, REHN REPEATED THE EU'S DEMAND THAT TURKEY EXTEND AN AGREEMENT ON TRADE WITH THE EU TO INCLUDE CYPRUS WHICH JOINED THE UNION IN 2004.
