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[brother]

EU steps up Cyprus pressure


Turkish leaders are planning a summit in the coming days to discuss what strategy to pursue in the critical run-up to the Dec. 17 summit

ANKARA- Turkish Daily News

The head of the European Union legislature is set to give “cautious messages” to Turkish leaders when he visits Ankara today, particularly, addressing the sensitive issue of Cyprus, just two weeks before European leaders decide whether to open up accession talks with Turkey.

European President Josep Borrell’s warnings on Cyprus show that the EU is set to increase pressure on Ankara to resolve the deep-running problem before the mid-December summit of EU leaders. Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, one of the 25 leaders who will decide whether or not to open accession talks with Turkey, said the EU could not start negotiations before Ankara recognizes Greek Cyprus.

Turkey, an EU candidate since 1999, is awaiting EU leaders giving the go-ahead to start accession talks when they meet for the summit on Dec. 17. The European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee endorsed a report on Tuesday, recommending that leaders open the talks “without undue delay” but saying “the opening of negotiations naturally presupposes recognition by Turkey” of the internationally recognized Greek Cyprus.

Borrell said in remarks to Turkish media representatives yesterday, ahead of his visit to Turkey, that an effective start of talks depends on Turkish recognition of the Greek Cypriot administration.
“You cannot sit at a negotiating table with somebody you don't recognize,” Borrell told Turkish reporters.
Borrell and Rasmussen’s remarks as well as the report adopted at the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee came after the Dutch presidency of the EU indicated in a draft summit statement on Monday that Turkey would have to accept tough conditions to start accession talks, including the de facto recognition of the Greek Cypriot administration.

Ankara, however, plans to take no steps before the Dec. 17 summit. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül has said the EU should act first and agree to open the accession negotiations, and any steps on the settlement of the Cyprus problem would be considered afterwards.
Turkish leaders are planning a summit to be headed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer in the coming days to discuss what strategy to pursue in the-run up to the critical EU summit. The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has proposed a special parliamentary session on the government’s EU policy.

The Dutch presidency document called on Ankara to amend its 1963 Association Agreement with the EU to take account of the accession of new members, including Greek Cyprus. Ankara, on the other hand, says it has done its share by supporting a U.N.-drafted reunification plan for the island earlier this year.

“I have difficulty in understanding and explaining why more demands keep coming with relation to Cyprus,” Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdog<breve>an said on Tuesday. “The EU should act in a fair manner,” he said.
Turkish Cypriots voted in favor of the reunification plan in an April 24 referendum that failed due to Greek Cypriot rejection of the plan.
In addition to the Cyprus condition, the Dutch document also said accession talks would be an open-ended process whose outcome cannot be guaranteed and added that talks could be suspended by a one-third vote in the EU.
Although the tough conditions rattled Ankara, Turkey's opponents in the EU apparently were not satisfied by its critical tone. Le Monde newspaper said yesterday that the French government thought the document’s conclusions on Turkey’s membership bid were “too positive.”

The document did not include a reference to any alternative to full membership for Turkey, dismissing calls from French, German and other conservatives for such options. Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel also said the Dec. 17 EU summit conclusions should include a reference to alternatives other than full membership for Turkey, a prospect strictly dismissed by Turkish leaders.
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament also rejected calls to offer Ankara anything less than full membership when it adopted the Turkey report drafted by Dutch rapporteur Camiel Eurlings on Tuesday.
Lawmakers said the objective of the negotiations should be full EU membership although that outcome cannot be automatically guaranteed and depends on the efforts of both sides.

They rejected a key amendment that would have spelled out that if Turkey did not meet all the EU criteria, "other options like a privileged partnership ought to be taken into account."
The parliament report, due to be formally adopted by the full house after a plenary debate on Dec. 14, just before the summit, stressed the need for further progress on human rights.
The report is not binding on EU governments but it is important because it reflects European public opinion.
The lawmakers also called for an immediate end to hostilities in southeastern Turkey and urged Ankara to do more "to build reconciliation with Kurdish forces that chose to abandon the use of arms."
It called for the immediate release of all those imprisoned for non-violent expression of opinions in Turkey, as well.

[-mikkie2-]

The EU is indeed putting pressure. This is a reply that Erdogan made to a question regarduing the Ecumenical Patriarch...

As regards the Greek Orthodox Patriarch's status, Erdogan says: "As to the ecumenical issue, we really do not consider this to be right. We find it wrong for outsiders to issue an invitation by bestowing such a title upon a person who is our citizen and lacks such a status. And to demonstrate that we consider this to be wrong, we simply issued a directive to all our public officials. Each country has its own sensitivities. We all must protect these sensitivities. Besides the fact that this is a status defined in Lausanne. We have to abide by this status defined in Lausanne. As such, the opposite side too has to abide by that. If not, they will be violating a treaty.

Now the interesting thing here is that Turkey mentiones the Treaty of Lausanne. This treaty also states that Turkey relinquishes all claims to Cyprus and also settles the Aegean issues. Turkey has stated in the past that it DOES NOT recognise the Lausanne Treaty! Hence why we have the problems in the Aegean.

Surely this is a double standard! She abides to those things that are in her favour and disregards those that are not.

Is this how Turkey will conduct herself in the EU?

[brother]

I thought turkey did not recognise that treaty too but where did you read that statement by erdogan, i would like to go and see it, because if he has made such a statement then shame on him, he just made himself look stupid.

[-mikkie2-]

Link is below

http://www.hri.org/news/cyprus/tcpr/2004/04-12-02.tcpr.html

Its part of the 1st article titled, "Erdogan interviewed on NTV"

[brother]

thanks mikkie, i have read it all and i am appauled at his remarks.

[-mikkie2-]

I think that Turkey is feeling the screw being tightened. I guess it is a sign that Turkey will have to accept the inevitable.

There is no use for Turkey to cry foul regarding Cyprus. For 30 years she has stalled on finding a solution to the problem. Then she makes a half hearted approach to solve it and in the process ensuring that the TC's said yes and forgetting that the GC's needed something to say yes to as well.

I think my prediction will probably come true regards to finding a solution before Turkey starts negotiations. Gul has pretty much said as much by saying that recognition will happen when the problem is solved, and since without recognition, she can't start negotiations then there can be only one path.

This is ultimately going to be a test on how much Turkey wants to be an EU member.

[brother]

I do agree with you mikkie but that was not one of the conditions for turkey to get a start date i am going to back the idea that this will not be an issue on 17 december but after turkey gets a date then i reckon the screw will start to tighten.

[-mikkie2-]

Turkey has to get agreement from all 25 member states.

By definition, it is a condition for Turkey to recognise Cyprus. It may not be explicitly written down, but by implication it is a requirement.

I would expect Turkey to make a concession at the last minute. Probably along the lines of partial recognition with a promise to solve the problem before negotiations begin. There cannot be another way in my view.

It is obvious she is holding out for the direct trade and flights but I cannot see that happening because the EU cannot steamroller over Cyprus. It just doesn't work that way.

[brother]

I understand that but i do not believe that if turkey does not do what is asked that the ROC will use its veto as that would summount to cutting your nose of to spite your face, i think it will wait for the next round where it can be put as a written requirement.

[-mikkie2-]

I was not suggesting that Cyprus would exercise the veto.

What I am saying is that irrespective of that, Turkey will either be forced to recognise RoC or failing that, to solve the problem before negotiations start.

In my view, the veto is irrelevant. It may make things happen just a bit sooner by a couple of months or so!