Cyprus-Forum.com

[DT.]

CANSU ÇAMLIBEL
BRUSSELS – Turkish Daily News


Although the newly-elected Greek Cypriot president's stance toward dialogue with northern Cyprus has inspired hope of finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, Dimitris Christofias' recent policies reveal he is not likely to follow the same pattern on relations with Turkey.

The new Greek Cypriot administration seems to have decided on continuing to obstruct Turkey's accession to the European Union as it recently created a new obstacle to Turkey's membership during talks in Brussels.

The Greek Cypriot's insistence to create a link between Turkey's human rights obligations and the Cyprus problem led to a stalemate during discussions on Chapter 23 which deals the issue of judiciary and fundamental rights. EU candidate open entry talks on 35 chapters.

The European Commission had initially proposed five opening benchmarks which Turkey had to fulfill in order to start talks on Chapter 23 last year, which is considered as one of the most problematic areas in negotiations due to bulk of the reforms that are required. However, the chapter was not given priority for a long time in order to proceed with work on "easier" chapters.

When the long-awaited debate finally started in Brussels, Greek Cyprus intervened on the wording of one of the benchmarks proposed the European Commission which asked Turkey to provide an Action Plan which should include measures that would ultimately secure the full respect of the rights and freedoms guaranteed under the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).



Exercise of effective control:

The Turkish Daily News learned that Greek Cypriots asked for an implicit reference to the ECHR ruling on the case of Titiana Loizidou who held Turkey responsible for the losses, and therefore violation of fundamental rights, in northern Cyprus since it exercises effective control. Although Turkey paid the compensation fee to Loizidou for her loss of property, it denies having effective control over the northern part of the island.

Hence, the recent move of Greek Cypriots in Brussels to claim responsibility from Turkey on issues related to fundamental rights in northern Cyprus led to strong protests by Ankara vis-à-vis European capitals last week. Ankara also raised its concerns at the EU-Turkey meeting held in Ankara Tuesday.

While the meeting was continuing in Ankara, Slovenia, which holds the rotating presidency of the bloc, introduced a compromise formula in Brussels. The Slovenian benchmark proposal said, “Turkey is called to provide information for the implementation of its international obligations, especially for the measures which undertake protection of human rights where it exercises effective control according to the decisions of the ECHR.”

Since the language on “effective control” remained in the text, Britain objected to the Slovenian proposal with an effort to defend Turkey's position. Although Britain announced its intention to come up with a new proposal next week, a compromise solution looks unlikely.



Rising tendency to freeze the debate:

The Turkish side made clear that it is determined to reject any benchmark proposal for Chapter 23 which refers to responsibility outside the frontiers of the Turkish Republic. Meanwhile, Greek Cypriot sources said they will not accept anything less than the Slovenian formula. Due to this stalemate, a general agreement emerged among member states to freeze the discussion on Chapter 23 in order to avoid the negative effects on the possible negotiations for a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus.

http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/arti ... sid=103906

[RAFAELLA]

[Nikitas]

Note the uncalled for initiative of the British who stuck their nose where it does not belong.