Cyprus-Forum.com

[zan]

The end of Cyprus’ leverage on Turkey?
By Jean Christou

IF CYPRUS is a mere thorn in the side of Turkey’s EU accession, then
France has suddenly become a millstone around its neck.

It might appear gratifying that, since Nicolas Sarkozy’s election as President last Sunday, the EU’s second largest member state has very serious doubts about Turkey’s accession, but for Cyprus such support may prove a double-edged sword.

After three years of making a nuisance of itself in corridors of Brussels, Nicosia finally appears to have a strong public ally.

The only hitch is that in a currently volatile Turkey, where there is a strong possibility Ankara may turn its back on the EU, there will be no incentive whatsoever for Turkey to make a deal on Cyprus.

The fact is, that as things stand, Cyprus suddenly desperately needs Turkey’s EU process on track, while Turkey feels less minded than ever to make any move on Cyprus to appease Brussels.

The Greek Cypriot side has always viewed EU accession as a lever against Turkey, but in the last three years it has seen the EU bending over backwards to smooth Ankara’s path, resulting in zero gains for Nicosia.

Turkey has been used to getting what it wants, getting away with flouting the customs union protocol to normalise trade with Cyprus, receiving a slap on the wrist from Brussels but no orders to open its ports and airports.

Is that all about to change, with Sarkozy repeatedly insisting during his campaign that Turkey was in Asia and had no place in the European Union?

Brussels has been rushing to soften the blow, saying this week it would open three more negotiating chapters with Turkey by the end of June.

Talks on eight chapters have been frozen over the protocol issue.

Nicosia must now walk the tightrope between supporting its new best friend and keeping Turkey in the game for the benefit of a Cyprus settlement, preferably without seeing Ankara receiving the preferential treatment it has until now.

''It’s up to Turkey itself to prove with actions and not words that it is entitled to receive a European identity, and this proof depends on Ankara's full compliance with the European prerequisites and its response with its European obligations and commitments,'' the Government Spokesman said on Monday, when asked about Sarkozy’s statements.

One diplomat said Cyprus had forged a close relationship with France in
the last few years, despite diverging views on Turkey’s accession.

“Most people would say that while Sarkozy is in power Turkey’s EU progress looks less certain,” he said. “For a country like Cyprus, this should be an issue of concern. If you’re using the EU process to push Turkey into a corner to make compromises… if Turkey is turned, or turns away, you’re left hanging with nothing.”

Analyst Hubert Faustmann said it was obvious Sarkozy’s election did not bode well for the Cyprus issue. “But the government’s policy is contradictory. Papadopoulos’ policy is squeezing concessions out of Turkey and jeopardising its accession. This is a high-risk strategy, and Cyprus will end up in a corner,” he said.

Faustmann said Cyprus’ relations with France were akin to the old saying, ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend’, but he warned that if Nicosia took this road it would only block a solution, which now seemed more remote than ever. “This is a high-risk gamble that is less and less likely to pay off,” he added.

Another analyst, James Ker-Lindsay, said it was possible that Turkey’s generals may decide that Sarkozy's election meant there was now no real prospect of Turkey joining the EU, which might prompt them to a harder line against the ruling Justice and Development Party. The possibility of a coup could not be discounted either, he said, which would end any remaining hopes Turkey has for membership.

“A military intervention would almost certainly kill of hopes of any settlement to the Cyprus dispute,” he said.

But DISY MEP and possible presidential candidate Ioannis Kasoulides said it was too early to draw any conclusions on how the developments in France and Turkey would affect the Cyprus issue. Kasoulides said Sarkozy had been very explicit in what he said about Turkey: “He openly expressed something that has been lurking around the public opinion of certain European countries,” he added.

Kasoulides thought EU negotiations with Ankara would continue for a while at a slower rate, and that perhaps the issues of a status short of full membership would come up at another stage. He also warned of the risk of Turkey turning its back on the EU. But he added that, even with the prospect of full membership until now, he had not seen Turkey make the slightest concession on Cyprus.



Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2007

[pitsilos]

not really, coz if turkey is this stupid she deserves everything she gets. including sharia law. and baby thats just around the corner from what i hear.

ps. the roc got nothing so far, so nothing is lost. pity can't say the same about turkey though. begging for 40 years and when finally got a date she shit her pants.

[zan]

not really, coz if turkey is this stupid she deserves everything she gets. including sharia law. and baby thats just around the corner from what i hear.

ps. the roc got nothing so far, so nothing is lost. pity can't say the same about turkey though. begging for 40 years and when finally got a date she shit her pants.

Keep thrashing about in the water Pits, the life saver is there ready and waiting when you stop behaving like a child.

[Bananiot]

Things are getting from bad to worse (for both Cyprus and Turkey) and Pitsillos thinks that it is a mere game of football, if I understand correctly his ranting.

[Piratis]

Keeping Turkey out of EU is the first objective. The second one is to make the Turks to dislike Europeans as much as possible and push them into Islamic fundamentalism. These are some important factors that in the future can play a very important role in the shift of the balance of power in our region which is required for a fair solution to the Cyprus Problem. Therefore Cyprus should use the little power that it has to help the developments go in that direction.

[zan]

Keeping Turkey out of EU is the first objective. The second one is to make the Turks to dislike Europeans as much as possible and push them into Islamic fundamentalism. These are some important factors that in the future can play a very important role in the shift of the balance of power in our region which is required for a fair solution to the Cyprus Problem. Therefore Cyprus should use the little power that it has to help the developments go in that direction.

This explains your whole attitude and lack of foresight just as your illustrious leader. You and Kifeas still itch for a war to prove your manhood. Time for Kifeas to show us a few more pictures of tanks and bunkers I think. You can show us a picture of someone else’s big penis and claim it as your own. You cannot see that the army will not allow Islamic fundamentalism and the oil dependant countries will not allow instability in Turkey. If the north is annexed to Turkey you can bleat all you like but you will never get back an inch. Try telling your people the truth and see how long TPap lasts then. Keep up the football chants boys, you are going down a division.

[pitsilos]

Things are getting from bad to worse (for both Cyprus and Turkey) and Pitsillos thinks that it is a mere game of football, if I understand correctly his ranting.

hey ban i was reffering to the article. tell me one concession that turkey gave on her EU aspirations.

Cyprus is a test case, you let that go and whats next. please go ahead and tell me where you draw the line mister?

oh maybe with the kurds? the generals? the freedoms? or are you under the impression the only obstacle for turkey towards her eu aspirations is cyprus...mate you are short sided...not everything revolves around your pathetic opinions about turkey and cyprus, its a whole ball game, not just a pass... please think before you talk.

zan you are so dull, you couldn't even cut a fart.

[pitsilos]

Keeping Turkey out of EU is the first objective. The second one is to make the Turks to dislike Europeans as much as possible and push them into Islamic fundamentalism. These are some important factors that in the future can play a very important role in the shift of the balance of power in our region which is required for a fair solution to the Cyprus Problem. Therefore Cyprus should use the little power that it has to help the developments go in that direction.

This explains your whole attitude and lack of foresight just as your illustrious leader. You and Kifeas still itch for a war to prove your manhood. Time for Kifeas to show us a few more pictures of tanks and bunkers I think. You can show us a picture of someone else’s big penis and claim it as your own. You cannot see that the army will not allow Islamic fundamentalism and the oil dependant countries will not allow instability in Turkey. If the north is annexed to Turkey you can bleat all you like but you will never get back an inch. Try telling your people the truth and see how long TPap lasts then. Keep up the football chants boys, you are going down a division.

thats your opinion zan, others beg to differ with you. sharia law coming up licking or not the army is scared shitless...just you wait, akp will win more votes. one way or another there will be a coup and we will see the outcome later this year. sit tight and enjoy the unfolding comedy.

in the last 80 years education should have fixed all the problems but turkey took the wrong turn and keeps on going down one way street...the fucking wrong way.

[zan]

Things are getting from bad to worse (for both Cyprus and Turkey) and Pitsillos thinks that it is a mere game of football, if I understand correctly his ranting.

hey ban i was reffering to the article. tell me one concession that turkey gave on her EU aspirations.

Cyprus is a test case, you let that go and whats next. please go ahead and tell me where you draw the line mister?

oh maybe with the kurds? the generals? the freedoms? or are you under the impression the only obstacle for turkey towards her eu aspirations is cyprus...mate you are short sided...not everything revolves around your pathetic opinions about turkey and cyprus, its a whole ball game, not just a pass... please think before you talk.

zan you are so dull, you couldn't even cut a fart.

And you have got the thinking before you talking part off to a Tee There is only one island that is kicking up a stink as far as the EU is concerned and that is Cyprus. The latest report that I posted a couple of weeks ago says that Turkey is still on course for EU membership and hat was from the EU it self. It of course said that there were many things left to do but again how ready were Greece and the "RoC" when they were accepted so again get off your high horse. The "RoC" is a bloody pain in EU and is only concerned in getting what it wants out of the EU and is fast becoming a nuisance as many EUMPs have stated. You guys think that just because you plead innocence the EU and he rest of the world cannot see what you are up to. This is the Internet age Pits, word gets around fast. The "RoC" propaganda machine is faltering and the lies and dirty tricks are being seen for what they are. Even the "RoC" citizens are finding out the truth and you guys are panicking. Keep up the name calling and tell me I am boring....I love it.

[pitsilos]

hey don't you worry you pretty little head about how other members got in...just accept they are in period...we are talking about turkey getting in period. so you raving on and on about the other countries is of no consequence.

just answer the questions...which are...the kurds? the generals? the freedoms?.. when you think turkey will evolve from the dark ages?