Turk PM says military supports reform for EU

ANKARA, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit on Saturday dismissed
suggestions that the powerful military was opposed to reforms necessary for Turkey to fulfil
its ambition of joining the European Union.

Speaking in a live interview with NTV television, Ecevit said he did not agree with his
deputy Mesut Yilmaz, who warned this week that Turkey might miss the EU train. Yilmaz
said concerns about national security were used spuriously to block reforms and progress in
Turkey.

Turkey was made a candidate for membership in 1999 and last year the EU published a
document spelling out political and economic reforms, particularly in human rights, that it
wants to see before Turkey can start membership negotiations.

"There has not been any opposition from the General Staff to the accession programme. On
the contrary the General Staff thinks that it has inevitable benefits," Ecevit said.

"They have not even by implication shown any opposition."

The EU conditions for Turkey's entry touch on areas regarded as highly sensitive for
national security, such as the fate of Cyprus -- divided between Greek and Turkish Cypriots
-- and the granting of full cultural rights to Turkey's 12 million Kurds.
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