Cyprus-Forum.com

[Expatkiwi]

Article is Turkishpress.com. Thought I'd pass it on to the forum...

The E.U. Avoids Two Accidents
Published: 12/11/2009
BY SAMI KOHEN
MILLIYET - People have been curious recently if during its summit this month, the European Union would make a decision against Turkey due to the Cyprus issue, by suspending its membership talks or resorting to certain sanctions that might offend Turkey. But none of this could be found in text of the decision which was finalized by the EU foreign ministers and is expected to be approved at the two-day summit that started yesterday. So the membership talks won't be suspended, there's no sanction or punitive action, and there's not even a deadline. The EU's final stance on this issue put Ankara at ease. The problem which has been putting Ankara under pressure actually comes from something it did three years ago, when it agreed to open its airports and harbors to Greek Cypriot vessels by December 2009, and this issue was clearly included in the EU's December 2006 summit declaration. But Turkey didn't keep this promise for various reasons, mainly because the Greek Cypriots continue their blockade on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and the EU is continuing its policy of isolating the TRNC. If these restrictions had been lifted, the promises which were made three years ago could have been fulfilled as well. But there hasn't even been agreement on a formula for doing so.

The Greek Cypriot administration first intended to force the EU to make a decision to 'punish' Turkey. It even considered suspending the membership talks, but then it emerged that the EU wouldn't make such an extreme decision and so Greek Cyprus pushed for sanctions like freezing important chapters of the talks. Its intensive lobbying in Brussels was also supported by Greece and France. But these efforts came to nothing, due to the determination of member states like Term President Sweden and Britain. And so Greek Cyprus couldn't put its own conditions in the text of decision, and instead released a separate declaration saying it would block the talks in six new chapters. The document expressed 'regret' over Turkey's failure to fulfill its responsibility in a timely manner and asked that the EU Commission document developments on this issue in next year's progress report. Considering how the paragraph on this issue in the declaration was revised three times, the sensitivity of the majority at the EU Council in favor of Turkey is clear. Indeed, this shows Turkey's importance for the EU and the determination of most of its of members to continue Turkey's membership process.

The EU did the right thing by taking this stance. The opposite decision could have derailed the ongoing Cyprus talks as well, just as they enter their most critical stage. Some decision, negative or positive, should emerge by March. If a solution can be found, the ports issue will already be resolved. The EU's decision is important, as it avoided a 'road accident' in Turkey's EU membership talks or in the talks between TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot administration leader Dimitris Christophias.

[paaul12]

thanks Expat:

now take this and stick it in your fcuking pipe and smoke on it:::::

Turkey's importance for the EU and the determination of most of its of members to continue Turkey's membership process.

have a nice day, and the next time you feel the need to slag of a country that the EU consider and think of as IMPORTANT just refer back to this FACT