· EU is pleased of the reform process in Turkey but there are shortcoming in practice.

· EU welcomed the removal of the military representative at the State Security Courts and Higher Education Board.

· Even though Kurdish courses started in three regions, significant difficulties prevail in practice. Local authorities are uninformed about the practice.

· Reforms especially about Non-Moslem minorities failed to yield any practical results. A law especially to enable these to acquire properties, must be passed without delay.

· Reports still indicate the torture and bad treatment prevails in Turkey. More efforts are needed to punish torturers.

· Upholding sentences of Leyla Zana and former DEP deputies, shadow the reform process.

EU Commissioner Gunther Verheugen told journalists that the progress report was being written about Turkey and will be concluded in October. Describing Turkey’s reforms impressive, Verheugen said that their report will be unbiased and just.

Cyprus

Verheugen said that they will also enable Northern Cyprus to make direct trade with the European Union.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was visiting Moscow on Wednesday to tackle the Middle East issue. However Gul is expected to hold talks with Russian authorities on Thursday, on Cyprus, as Russia had prevented initiatives of the UN Security Council to end the isolation of Northern Cyprus.