Cyprus-Forum.com

[brother]

War Of Annoyances
BYEGM: 12/2/2004

BY OKTAY EKSI

HURRIYET- As the Dec. 17 European Union summit approaches, we are facing new annoyances. A draft statement prepared by EU Term President the Netherlands includes sections implicitly calling for the recognition of Greek Cyprus as well as proposals for ‘open-ended’ talks, permanent limitations on the movement of Turkish workers into EU countries, a ‘special partnership’ for Turkey instead of membership, and ending the talks if seen as necessary. These proposals aren’t well-intentioned aims for integration with Turkey. Instead they seek to discourage our membership bid or test our pride. What these proposals actually say is: ‘After you hang about for 10 or 15 years, we don’t want to see you as an equal member of the Union, but as modern servants to sweep the streets of Europe.’

It’s clear that this war of annoyances will continue until Dec. 17, where EU leaders will decide on starting our accession talks. I don’t say ‘whether to start accession talks,’ because the decision of the Helsinki summit of 1999 is clear: If we fulfill our duties, the way to our membership would be opened. It’s been over four years. First they wanted us to fulfill the short-term criteria in one year and the long-term criteria in three. We fulfilled all of them, and they confirmed this with a report. When we asked them whether anything remained to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria, some countries (especially France, Netherlands and Austria) started to be evasive. They proposed ‘special partnership’ for Turkey. French President Jacques Chirac’s attitude proposing a ‘special partnership’ is very disappointing. If you had such an idea in mind, why 43 years ago did you promise that Turkey would become an EU member after fulfilling certain criteria?

It would be terrible for the EU to maintain this stance, for they would be discriminating against a country which they promised equal membership. For it would mean they lack the honor to keep their promises.

[brother]

Forget all other debates the man speaks the truth, that is what was agreed and promises should be kept otherwise the E.U is no better than a cheap h*r with no morals and promises mean nothing.

In short is that what the E.U wants to stand for a union that makes promises and then does not keep them, who will trust them, noone and that will be its undoing.

[brother]

To add to my previous statement the E.U still has not kept its promises to the TC, why make a promise if you are not going to keep them, i as a U.K citizen do not trust the E.U and when the referandum comes around i will vote 'NO' to full integration with the E.U as i see it at the moment its only true trait is that of a liar and with no honour. I HOPE I AM WRONG

[Piratis]

EU is made of 25 countries. I don't remember when Cyprus gave promises to Turkey.

If some countries gave promises to Turkey, then Turkey can become part of those countries. E.g Turkey can become another Kingdom of UK.

But to become a member of EU all 25 countries must agree, and not just some of them.

[-mikkie2-]

Brother,

The EU made hasty promises without taking a step back to think of the consequences.

The fact is, any moves for the EU to keep its 'promise' to the TC's, it must first get the approval of the Cyprus government. Thats the way it is. Thats how the EU works!

The same goes for direct flights. Only the Cyprus government has the final say as to whether the flights can go ahead.

Perhaps if Turkey makes reciprocal steps then the Cyprus government could give its permission, rather than hiding behind the TC yes vote.

[brother]

Firstly the promises made to turkey were made before you was a member and as such you have to abide by the agreements and promises that were in progress when you joined, i.e as such the current cyprus goverment decides that all people will be retired at 65 but then the tc join the goverment and say hey i did not agree to that should you break your promise.

Promises made have to be kept wether they stepped back and thought about it or not is irrelivant.

People or states that do not keep promises are as we universally know are LIARS and not to be trusted.