Cyprus-Forum.com

[Lit]

By Marcin Grajewski

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2009/03 ... 36053.html

BRUSSELS, March 31 (Reuters) - The European Union's enlargement chief criticised Turkey on Tuesday for the way it treats the press, citing its tax dispute with its biggest media group, Dogan Yayin Holding.
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Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn also said Turkey could make progress in its negotiations to join the EU if it backed United Nations efforts to reunite the divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus, where Ankara backs the northern part.

Turkey should also improve women's rights and religious freedoms, he told a meeting with Turkish parliamentarians.

Rehn singled out the Turkish government's treatment of Dogan Yayin, which has seen its bank accounts frozen in a legal wrangle over a $500-million penalty for alleged tax violations.

The fine came after months of public mudslinging between Dogan newspapers and Turkey's ruling AK Party, prompting some -- including the U.S. State Department -- to question the level of press freedom in the country.

'Unfortunately, certain recent developments bring me back to this topic again, I am thinking this time of freedom of press, in particular the recent procedure launched against the Dogan press group,' Rehn said.

[paliometoxo]

turkey doesent want to re unite cyprus though