(DIP) TURKEY NEEDS TO AMEND CONSTITUTION IN REGARD TO CLOSURE OF POLITICAL PARTIES, EU COMMISSIONER REHN.

BRUSSELS, Jun 27, 2009 (TUR) -- European Union (EU) Commissioner for enlargement Olli Rehn said Friday Turkey needs to amend its Constitution in regard to the closure of political parties so that the country avoids a new constitutional crisis.

Speaking at the Crans Montana Forum in Brussels, Rehn said that, with its reforms made in the EU process, Turkey has reached its most democratic stage.

To date, we have opened 10 chapters for negotiations with Turkey and will open the chapter on 'taxation' next week. All of these indicate that Turkey moves forward in the EU accession process, Rehn said.

Turkey-EU relations are based on strong and joint strategic interests. Aside from commercial partnership, Turkey and the EU have relations in energy security, the Middle East peace process and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations initiative, Rehn said.

The Nabucco Project will minimize the EU's dependency on Russia for natural gas. Once the Nabucco Project is implemented, joint strategic interests between Turkey and the EU will get strengthened, Rehn said.

Touching on Cyprus, Rehn stressed that the two communities in the island must focus on the future rather than the past and should insist on a solution.

Had Germany and France focused only on the past, they could not have formed the European Union. Accusing each other is not a way for solution, Rehn said.

The reforms are the engine of the accession process. It is time for Turkey to re-start political reforms, Rehn said.

In order to have credibility, it is important for the EU to keep its promises made to Turkey, Rehn also said.

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