Cyprus-Forum.com

by **-mikkie2-** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 3:18 pm

From todays Simerini newspaper (my translation)

Hard bargaining in the Belgian capital.

Intense backstage developments are expected to unfold in the next 48 hours in Brussels, with first subject the membership course of Turkey and with extension the Cyprus problem, with the Annan plan as the focus. All those immediately involved, Tassos Papadopoulos, Kostas Karamanlis and Tony Blair, whose country undertakes in June the presidency of the EU, will be found in Brussels where they will participate in the first working session of the European Council, that occurs tomorrow and Wednesday. Tayip Erdogan will also be in Brussels, who will participate tomorrow at the Summit of the European Popular Party that will take place in castle Bouchout, and is expected in the framework of the summit to have a meeting with the chairman of DISY Nikos Anastassiadis.

Time is running at the expense Turkey, which must sign up by 3rd October the customs union protocol with the 10 new member states. Signature will mean the diplomatic recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, which the Turks do not accept and they try to avoid this development.

Mr Karamanlis and Erdogan will dine today in the evening in a well known restaurant of Brussels "Loren". Mr Karamanlis is expected to repeat to his Turkish counterpart his obligation that he will quickly make good the actions that he undertook, that Turkey signs and it ratifies the Customs Union Protocol with the 10 new member states. As to the reason for the urgency of Greece and her worries on behalf of Turkey in order that she does not lose the train of integration, Mr Karamanlis has repeatedly declared and repeated the day before yesterday in his speech to his party,

"A European Turkey will be a much more compatible neighbour for Greece and the other neighbouring countries", stressed Mr Karamanlis, who wishes for the normalisation of Greek-Turkish relations.

In any case, if we judge from the last statements of Erdogan and Gul, the Turkish government presents itself as panic-stricken as it finds itself in an awkward position, without margin for her usual obstructionisms or retractions on a regular basis, after the slap that was given to Croatia by the EU, which has denied the start of membership negotiations because of her non-conformity with the European Acquis.

To this direction, Erdogan is expected to ask from Mr Karamanlis for his support, so that the decisions which were taken against Croatia do not affect his country. The discussions that will begin today between Karamanlis - Erdogan, with the attendance of Foreign Affairs ministers, will prepare the ground for the visit that will be realized a few days later, on the 12th and 13th April, by Mr Molyviatis, which will be followed by the visit - this coming autumn – of Kostas Karamanlis. Mr Karamanlis will tomorrow have a meeting in the afternoon with President Papadopoulos in the offices of the Cypriot delegation in Brussels, where it is expected that he will inform him with what was said at the dinner with Erdogan. Immediately afterwards Mr Karamanlis will have a meeting with the President of the European Council Hose Baroso.

by **-mikkie2-** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 3:23 pm

This is something that EU must resolve because EU created this problem by making "RoC" an EU member before the Cyprus problem resolved. It's not Turkey's problem. And if Turkey is forced to a formal recognition of "RoC"; she will not hesitate to ask suspension of her EU negotiations. It is as simple as this.

You obvioulsy fail to understand how the EU operates. This is a problem for Turkey, not the EU. It is inconceivable that Turkey can start negotiations without signature of the protocol.

Upon signature of the protocol two things will happen.

1. Cyprus will request overflight rights for civilian aircraft over Turkish airspace.

2. Cyprus will formally request that Cypriot registered vessels (1/6th the worlds fleet) to be allowed to dock at Turkish ports.

What will the Turks do? Refuse both of these requests under the pretext that she does not recognise Cyprus?

by **-mikkie2-** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 3:57 pm

Yet more warnings towards Turkey this time by the German socialists...

German Socialists have hard words for Turkey
21.03.2005 - 09:54 CET | By Honor Mahony
A leading Socialist MEP has warned that without further reform by Turkey and legal recognition by Ankara of Cyprus, there will be no opening of EU talks later this year.

http://www.euobserver.com/?sid=9&aid=18707