The European Parliament accepted a statute governing...

The European Parliament accepted a statute governing Turkey's preparations for the accession process. The document accepted by the parliament tied aid scheduled for Turkey's economic and social development to the solution of the Kurdish problem, and the priority given to the protection of minority rights. The vote approved the awarding of nearly Euro 135 million of aid aimed at Turkey's social and political development. The aid would be delivered on a project basis. However, the conditions attached to the aid included respect to minorities, the protection of the cultural rights of minorities, the removal of the death penalty, and the solution of the Kurdish problem.