Turkey will be given EU hometask

Turkey will be given two years to eliminate torture, establish freedom of religion and assert civilian control over the military if it wants to become a European Union member in 10 years, The Financial Times reported.

According to the British newspaper a draft is ready in which the European Commission will this month give Turkey a checklist of a nearly 150 short-term tasks for becoming an EU member. However, officials denied the reports.

The draft document is aimed at easing EU voters' concerns about Turkey's potential membership.

Turkey within the next year or two will have to "ensure implementation ... of the 'zero tolerance' policy against torture" and "to adopt a law comprehensively addressing all the difficulties faced by non-Muslim religious minorities and communities," the daily said, citing the draft.

It added that during the same period the country must "establish full parliamentary oversight of military and defense policy," "abolish any remaining competence of military courts to try civilians" and "ensure the independence of the judiciary," the daily reported.

The draft fills in the gaps left by last month's decision to begin membership talks with Ankara, AFP reports.

V.Y.

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