Cyprus Turkey will leave the CTs out in the cold....

Paphitis · vip

Turkey says only full EU membership acceptable

ATHENS (Reuters) - Turkey will accept nothing less than full European Union membership, its EU affairs minister said in an interview published on Sunday, following government efforts in Brussels last week to revive its drive to join.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday Ankara was pushing ahead with reforms required for its entry in the EU and rejected proposals by France and Germany offering it enhanced trade and other ties instead of full membership.

"We either become a full member or nothing, there is no alternative," said Egemen Bagis, Turkey's chief negotiator with the EU, in an interview with Greece's Kathimerini newspaper.

Bagis said the 27-nation bloc will need Turkey in the future to deal with issues such as terrorism, organised crime, climate change and energy.

The EU agreed in 2005 to open accession talks with Turkey, but negotiations have been moving slowly. In 2006, talks were partly frozen over Turkey's refusal to open its ports and airports to Greek-Cypriot traffic.

In December, the EU Commission will review a promise by Ankara to open its ports to Cypriot vessels. But Bagis said this would not mean recognition of the Greek-Cypriot administration on the whole island.

"If Turkey opens its ports to Greek-Cypriot vessels, it won't mean that it recognises the Greek-Cypriot administration as the prevalent country on the whole island," he said.

"We could move simultaneously, with European states starting business with northern Cyprus and Turkey opening its ports."

Greece, which came to the brink of war with Turkey in 1996, says it supports its neighbour's bid to join the EU, provided it resolves disputes and helps reunite Cyprus, divided since a Turkish invasion in 1974 after a brief Greek-inspired coup.

Talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriots resumed last year, after a four-year lull but with few apparent concrete results.

Bagis said Turkey would support a settlement plan if it was accepted by both sides in Cyprus. "It's time to understand each other and focus on our common interests," he said.

Bagis also said Turkey should open the Halki Theology School, the country's only Greek Orthodox seminary, which it has kept closed since 1971, despite calls by the EU.

http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-40653420090628?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0

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Straight from the horses mouth....Turkey will accept nothing more than full EU accession and we all know what this means for the CTs... Laughing

The next few months are going to be very interested as it is expected that Turkey WILL open its ports and airspace to Cypriot registered ships and aircraft. Cool

denizaksulu · vip

I am not much bothered about the CT's but more concerned with the TC's.

No doubt this will please the RoC and then open its arms and welcome TCs back into the fold and treat them as equal citizens. Confused

I doubt it. There are too many 'partitionists' in the RoC or am I wrong?

Kikapu · vip

TURKEY READY TO SUPPORT A MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE PLAN IN CYPRUS

28 June 2009, Sunday

Turkish Minister of State and Chief Negotiator for the European Union Egemen Bagis has said ‘if the two leaders on the island reach an agreement that is acceptable by both sides, Turkey will support this solution as well’.

In an interview he gave to a newspaper, the Turkish Minister of State evaluated the Cyprus issue and Turkey’s EU prospective.

Answering a question regarding Turkey opening its ports to Greek Cypriot vessels, Mr. Bagis said the moment Turkey does this; it will mean that it has accepted the Greek Cypriot Administration as the sovereign state on the island.

Showing Taiwan as an example Mr. Bagis said ‘the whole world is trading with Taiwan but this doesn’t mean that they recognize that country.

The European Union had decided to end the isolation on the 26th of April 2004 of the Turks of Cyprus but this doesn’t mean that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will be recognized’, said Mr. Bagis.

Reminding that the Annan Plan wasn’t perfect but was supported because it was a just plan Mr. Bagis said as soon as the leaders in Cyprus come up with a mutually acceptable plan, Turkey is ready to support a solution plan once again.

Referring to Turkey’s EU prospective, the EU Chief Negotiator said Turkey is determined to conclude its negotiations process with the EU.

‘We want full membership to the EU and will not accept anything less.
Full membership of nothing’, he added.

http://www.brtk.cc/index.php/lang/en/cat/2/news/51357

"Answering a question regarding Turkey opening its ports to Greek Cypriot vessels, Mr. Bagis said the moment Turkey does this; it will mean that it has accepted the Greek Cypriot Administration as the sovereign state on the island.

Showing Taiwan as an example Mr. Bagis said ‘the whole world is trading with Taiwan but this doesn’t mean that they recognize that country."

The above seems to contradict each other.

bill cobbett · professor

EU Accesion isn't a negotiation process. Turkey still doesn't get this.

Open the ports and airspace with zero in return.

Get Real! · vip

bill cobbett · professor

denizaksulu · vip

Let us pray.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the partitionists.
For thine is the Cyprus Republic, the power and the glory. for ever and ever belongs to the true Cypriots.
Amen

bill cobbett · professor

denizaksulu · vip

Prayers seem our only hope. Laughing

Altogether now.................

..and pigs (halal ones) may fly Rolling Eyes

EPSILON · lecturer