Cyprus-Forum.com

[paliometoxo]

The European Parliament yesterday warned Turkey its accession negotiations will be “further seriously affected” if it does not open up to Cypriot air and sea traffic by the end of the year.

“Non-fulfillment of Turkey’s commitment by December 2009 will further seriously affect the process of negotiations,” said the progress report approved by 528 to 52 votes with 43 abstentions.

December 2009 is when Brussels will review the accession course of Ankara which refuses to recognise EU-member state Cyprus.

The report also deplores the fact that the EC-Turkey customs union and its additional protocol has not yet been implemented fully by the Turkish government.

Moreover, MEPs call on Turkey to withdraw its troops from Cyprus, stressing the need for the two community leaders to reach "a comprehensive settlement" of the Cyprus question based on UN Security Council resolutions.

However, the report also includes an amendment suggesting ‘temporary, transitional derogations’ from the acquis communautaire’s four basic freedoms in the event of a comprehensive settlement.

Cyprus’s six MEPs voted against this “negative” reference submitted by the Greens, even though most described the report as “balanced” and “satisfactory”.

MEP Ioannis Kasoulides went a step further telling the Weekly the disputed amendment can also be interpreted in a positive way.

“It sends the message to the Turkish Cypriots that the EU won’t accept any permanent derogations from the four basic freedoms, something that (their leader) Mehmet Ali Talat has insisted during his recent visits to Brussels,” he said.

He also pointed that MEPs call on Turkey to comply with its obligations under international law and the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights on the Fourth Interstate Application by Cyprus against Turkey regarding investigations into the fate of missing persons.

Member States are asked to urge Turkey to take action on this humanitarian issue.

[boulio]

‘temporary, transitional derogations’

devil in the details does it mean 2 years or 20 years