Cyprus-Forum.com

[boomerang]

Turkey closer to joining EU, blames delays on Cyprus
JAMES G NEUGER Published: 2009/07/01 06:40:02 AM

PROGRESS: Turkey’s negotiator Egemen Bagis, left, and Czech Republic Foreign Minister Jan Kohout address a joint news conference after their meeting at the European Union Council in Brussels yesterday. Picture: REUTERS


TURKEY yesterday inched ahead in efforts to join the European Union (EU) and blamed Cyprus, its longtime rival in the Mediterranean Sea, for preventing faster progress.

Turkey began discussions to align its tax policies with the 27- nation bloc and sought talks in five more areas by the end of this year. So far, Turkey has opened talks in 11 of the EU’s 35 policy areas and completed talks in one.

Egemen Bagis, Turkey’s EU negotiator, placed the blame for the piecemeal progress on Cyprus, the mainly Greek-speaking Mediterranean republic that joined the EU in 2004 and can veto every step in Turkey’s negotiations.

“One small member state enjoying the beautiful Mediterranean sun” was blocking discussions on energy policy “at a time when Europe is having an energy crisis,” Bagis told a Brussels press conference yesterday.

The dispute with Cyprus, its northern part occupied by Turkey since 1974, has dogged entry talks from the debut in 2005. Turkey’s trade embargo on Cyprus led the EU to freeze negotiations in eight policy areas in 2006.

Efforts to reunify Cyprus — backed by the Turkish-controlled north and rejected by the internationally recognised Greek- speaking south in 2004 — resumed in September last year.

Turkey has also faced European public qualms about letting in a predominantly Muslim country with a standard of living less than a third of the EU average.

Bagis said Turkey would be “technically ready” to start talks in five areas — energy, environment, competition, social policy, education and culture — in the second half of this year.

“Turkey is determined to play the game with its rules, but when new rules are introduced to the game while the game is going on, this creates a reaction,” he said.

Each step requires approval by all 27 EU governments, enabling opponents like French President Nicolas Sarkozy to wield a veto.

Yesterday’s meeting, hours before the Czech government handed over the EU’s six-month presidency to Sweden, fell short of an earlier goal of opening two policy areas.

“The pace of accession negotiations continues to depend on Turkey’s own preparations,” said Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout, who chaired the session.

The spokesman for the press office of the defence industry undersecretariat said yesterday, on the usual condition of anonymity, that Ankara would take away a military-led committee’s responsibility for buying imported weapons and put responsibility for their procurement in civilian hands. The measure will be implemented today.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants to tighten civilian control over the secular military amid differences over Islam’s role in politics and as he conducts membership talks with the E U. Bloomberg

http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=74530

It't not bad enough that they occupy 37% of the country, now they opened a new front regarding the oil...brains?...yok...

The pirates of the mediterranean moaning and groaning...if the deep state had an ounce of brain it would see that throwing stones in a glass house is not the way to go...

...touti mono katalavoun ama dous dias pastin kelle...

stop whining you bastards, you made your bed, now lie in it...

[Dr J]

“One small member state enjoying the beautiful Mediterranean sun” was blocking discussions on energy policy “at a time when Europe is having an energy crisis,” Bagis told a Brussels press conference yesterday.

What a wanker trying to turn Europe against us. Get out of our country and introduce some morals into yours, you asshole.

[ahristos]

what have to do turks with eu..
90%of TURKEYS LAND IS ASIA

[Oracle]

Of course we are to blame for being in the way of Turkey's Expansionist plans ... we exist!

[Alpeis]

Have you ever felt the idea that Turkey is not willing to leave Cyprus and also has no intent in entering EU. It's so obvious that Cyprus cannot veto the membership of Turkey to EU unless France and Germany supports it. However, they also don't want to see Turkey as a full member. Since the religious government of Turkey is well aware of these facts they turned their face to the east and since 2000s they have been improving relations with neighboring Muslim countries...

[Paphitis]

Have you ever felt the idea that Turkey is not willing to leave Cyprus and also has no intent in entering EU. It's so obvious that Cyprus cannot veto the membership of Turkey to EU unless France and Germany supports it. However, they also don't want to see Turkey as a full member. Since the religious government of Turkey is well aware of these facts they turned their face to the east and since 2000s they have been improving relations with neighboring Muslim countries...

That's not what ERDOGAN has been saying.

Here, straight from the horse's mouth.....

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 ... dChannel=0

[EPSILON]

Have you ever felt the idea that Turkey is not willing to leave Cyprus and also has no intent in entering EU. It's so obvious that Cyprus cannot veto the membership of Turkey to EU unless France and Germany supports it. However, they also don't want to see Turkey as a full member. Since the religious government of Turkey is well aware of these facts they turned their face to the east and since 2000s they have been improving relations with neighboring Muslim countries...

Have you ever thing that EU declare Turkey as unwelcomed canditate in 10-15 years and the story between West/Turkey continue from where is stoped in 19th century?

What the generals can not understand is that Ottoman empire was an enemy of the civilized Europe and if they continue to behave like Ottomans in their political decisions they will face the same result.If you consider (as generals do) that Turkey is the most important thing for EU and its future , you/they have lost the way of Europeans thinking.

[Alpeis]

Have you ever felt the idea that Turkey is not willing to leave Cyprus and also has no intent in entering EU. It's so obvious that Cyprus cannot veto the membership of Turkey to EU unless France and Germany supports it. However, they also don't want to see Turkey as a full member. Since the religious government of Turkey is well aware of these facts they turned their face to the east and since 2000s they have been improving relations with neighboring Muslim countries...

That's not what ERDOGAN has been saying.

Are you crazy? For sure he cannot say this, but it's a well know fact shared by politicians.

As to Cyprus, it's my idea that they won't leave it...I am not sure if all GCs know that they are the ones governing here not the TRNC itself.

[Alpeis]

Have you ever felt the idea that Turkey is not willing to leave Cyprus and also has no intent in entering EU. It's so obvious that Cyprus cannot veto the membership of Turkey to EU unless France and Germany supports it. However, they also don't want to see Turkey as a full member. Since the religious government of Turkey is well aware of these facts they turned their face to the east and since 2000s they have been improving relations with neighboring Muslim countries...

Have you ever thing that EU declare Turkey as unwelcomed canditate in 10-15 years and the story between West/Turkey continue from where is stoped in 19th century?

What the generals can not understand is that Ottoman empire was an enemy of the civilized Europe and if they continue to behave like Ottomans in their political decisions they will face the same result.If you consider (as generals do) that Turkey is the most important thing for EU and its future , you/they have lost the way of Europeans thinking.

Frankly, I will not get surprised if one day in close future Turkey has a similar regime to Iran's. I don't care who loses what, I am just considering my own ass since people like me are a minority in Turkey. We don't have a say anymore...Therefore, I really don't care what they are doing, just watching...

[EPSILON]

Have you ever felt the idea that Turkey is not willing to leave Cyprus and also has no intent in entering EU. It's so obvious that Cyprus cannot veto the membership of Turkey to EU unless France and Germany supports it. However, they also don't want to see Turkey as a full member. Since the religious government of Turkey is well aware of these facts they turned their face to the east and since 2000s they have been improving relations with neighboring Muslim countries...

Have you ever thing that EU declare Turkey as unwelcomed canditate in 10-15 years and the story between West/Turkey continue from where is stoped in 19th century?

What the generals can not understand is that Ottoman empire was an enemy of the civilized Europe and if they continue to behave like Ottomans in their political decisions they will face the same result.If you consider (as generals do) that Turkey is the most important thing for EU and its future , you/they have lost the way of Europeans thinking.

Frankly, I will not get surprised if one day in close future Turkey has a similar regime to Iran's. I don't care who loses what, I am just considering my own ass since people like me are a minority in Turkey. We don't have a say anymore...

The problem for Turkish citizens is that, in order their country do not became as you said like Iran , they have to support the Generals (this is one point we can not easily understand in Greece/Cyprus) but at the same time the generals, in their efforts to safeguard the political system can also guide the country to the wrong direction.

Big dellima , complecated country. The reason i believe is that Attaturk's changes in population life style by force have not yet be fully part of the citizens way of thinking.(particularly in Anatolia and between the big teams of Anatolians moved to Istanbul and West waterfronts during the last 15-10 years.