ELDR Bureau Meeting, Tallinn, 11 April 2008
The ELDR Bureau:
-          notes with concern recent political and judicial developments in Turkey;
-          re-affirms its commitment to a EU membership perspective for Turkey;
-          reaffirms its support for the reform programme of Mr Erdogan and his government and rejects allegations that these reforms undermine the secular nature of the Turkish state;
-          welcome the recent visit of ELDR Vice-president Vesna Pusic and the current timely visit of Commissioner President Barroso and Commissioner Rehn; calls on the Commission and all EU Member states to re-affirm their support for the democratically elected government of Turkey;
-          calls on the

to dismiss against the Leaders of the AK Parti, recognizing their democratic legitimacy and the partisan motivation of the accusations against them;
-          appeals to all political forces in Turkey to work together to modernize the country’s institutions with a view to eventual EU membership;
-          resolves to deepen co-operation with liberal democratic forces in Turkey to support balanced political, social and economic reforms in the country.
ENDS