Cyprus-Forum.com

[Lit]

EU urges Turkey to do more on accession process

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009- ... 546751.htm


ISTANBUL, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- European Union urged Turkey to do more on its EU accession process in a meeting held between Turkey and European Union Troika here on Thursday.

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt renewed the EU's call for Turkey to open its ports and airspace to Greek Cyprus at the meeting.

The highest forum for political dialogue between the EU and Turkey convened with the participation of Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis, EU representative to Ankara Marc Pierini, and the EU's next term president, Spain's state secretary for Europe Diego Lopez Garrido.

Garrido expressed hopes for progress on Turkey's EU accession while challenging Turkey to do more.

"It is clear that Spain is a country that believes in the accession process," said Garrido, but "it depends on the political will. We have the political will. It depends mainly on the Turkishside."

As a response, Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu replied that the issue would be addressed after a solution to the division of the island is reached.

Speaking on negative signals from the EU regarding Turkey's EU accession process, Davutoglu said that the EU needs to "break down the Berlin wall that exists in the minds of people, not just politically, but socially and culturally."

Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Bagis said that Turkey had reminded the Troika that political obstacles which unfairly appeared on the way to Turkey's full EU membership negatively affected the Turkish public opinion.

He noted that Turkey had once again expressed during Thursday's meeting its commitment to achieve reforms and complete the negotiations process successfully.

Also speaking at the press conference Davutoglu said a new future for Europe would be built upon joint visions and grounds instead of crises and differences to make the Union a truly global attraction.

Carl Bildt said the EU closely monitored Turkey reforms process and it attached special importance to the democratic initiative, which he said would further strengthen Turkey-EU relations.

The European Union praised Thursday Turkey's efforts to grant its citizens of Kurdish origin more rights and to end the decades-old terror problem, linking it with the candidate country's aspirations to join the union.

"The reform process in Turkey and the accession process are closely linked to each other," Bildt said during annual Turkey-EU Troika meeting in Istanbul.

Bildt praised the Turkish government's pro-active foreign policy, especially in its region. "We appreciate the active Turkish role in foreign policy."

Asked how many negotiation chapters Garrido hopes will open under Spain's EU presidency, he refused to give a definite answer, saying, "We can't give a number now, because it's not a question of mathematics."

The European Union opened accession negotiations with Turkey in October 2005. Countries hoping to join the bloc must fulfill EU requirements in 35 policy negotiating areas, or chapters. Ankara has so far formally opened 11 chapters, of which it has provisionally completed negotiations on just one, science and research.

In 2006, while blocking eight chapters of the accession negotiations with Ankara due to its refusal to open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot traffic, the European Council said it would review the situation at the end of 2009.

In addition to the eight chapters frozen due to a customs dispute, France has been blocking another five chapters that are directly linked to full membership.

Greek Cyprus, meanwhile, accused by Ankara of using its veto rights over Turkey's EU accession process, has clearly said it would not let talks on the energy part of the accession process start until an oil exploration dispute with Turkey is resolved. Greek Cyprus is also blocking talks on education and culture.

According to officials from the European Commission, there are now only five chapters that seem available to be opened. Those chapters are on environment and food safety.

[Lit]

The European Union praised Thursday Turkey's efforts to grant its citizens of Kurdish origin more rights and to end the decades-old terror problem, linking it with the candidate country's aspirations to join the union.

LOL

[Expatkiwi]

The European Union praised Thursday Turkey's efforts to grant its citizens of Kurdish origin more rights and to end the decades-old terror problem, linking it with the candidate country's aspirations to join the union.

LOL

The EU is not going to admit Turkey. Greek Cyprus will see to that.

[SKI-preo]

20 other countries will vote against Turkish Accession before Cyprus. Austria, Germany and France a shitting themselves at the prospect of millions of poor,unskilled and uneducated Turkish peasants flooding their unemployment queues - Cyprus wants Turkey in the EU- we want a rich educated democratic and civilized neighbor not the nation of fascist village idiots there today.

[paliometoxo]

all this urges crap... grow som xidia EU and do something about it instead of urging and insiting and calling on... what crap... turkey will do what they want until forced to do otherwise and eu has no balls to force eu to do anything

[Me Ed]

The European Union praised Thursday Turkey's efforts to grant its citizens of Kurdish origin more rights and to end the decades-old terror problem, linking it with the candidate country's aspirations to join the union.

LOL

The EU is not going to admit Turkey. Greek Cyprus will see to that.

I think you guys call this "political equality".

[AWE]

Doesn't how much Turkey does to reform as part of the accession process the RoC will veto TR membership as they have threatened. Best thing would be for the RoC to use it's veto until they have an agreement they are happy with, all other EU member states would do the same, and see how Turkey reacts.

If Cyprus believes that it is more important to the EU than Turkey is what has it got to lose.

[DT.]

Doesn't how much Turkey does to reform as part of the accession process the RoC will veto TR membership as they have threatened. Best thing would be for the RoC to use it's veto until they have an agreement they are happy with, all other EU member states would do the same, and see how Turkey reacts.

If Cyprus believes that it is more important to the EU than Turkey is what has it got to lose.

Its completely in Cyprus's interests to see Turkey in the EU after a solution has been reached in Cyprus. Until then it is impossible for any EU member state to allow a nation currently illegally occupying its land to enter into the EU.

I'm afraid Turkey has a lot of work to do in order to convince Cyprus that it is ready to join the EU.

[Oracle]

The European Union praised Thursday Turkey's efforts to grant its citizens of Kurdish origin more rights and to end the decades-old terror problem, linking it with the candidate country's aspirations to join the union.

LOL

The EU is not going to admit Turkey. Greek Cyprus will see to that.

How Turkey behaves with Kurds, Armenians, Human Rights, Freedom of speech etc have as much to do with whether they are suitable for the EU as the prime indicator which is their willingness to leave Cyprus and abandon their illegal expansionist plans.

Why doesn't it take a leaf from the EU's book on how to expand .... (i.e. not by forceful invasion!)

[YFred]

The European Union praised Thursday Turkey's efforts to grant its citizens of Kurdish origin more rights and to end the decades-old terror problem, linking it with the candidate country's aspirations to join the union.

LOL

The EU is not going to admit Turkey. Greek Cyprus will see to that.

How Turkey behaves with Kurds, Armenians, Human Rights, Freedom of speech etc have as much to do with whether they are suitable for the EU as the prime indicator which is their willingness to leave Cyprus and abandon their illegal expansionist plans.

Why doesn't it take a leaf from the EU's book on how to expand .... (i.e. not by forceful invasion!)

OOOOHHHHHH, so expansion with bribes is alright then?