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[Oracle]

Füle stumbles on Cyprus problem on first Turkey visit

Published: 16 March 2010 On his first official visit to Turkey, EU Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle urged his hosts to fully normalise relations with EU member Cyprus, but heard from his interlocutors that the Cyprus issue should not affect their country's EU accession process. EurActiv Turkey reports.

Background
The division of Cyprus represents one of the most difficult issues affecting EU-Turkey relations, with the future of Turkey's accession talks hinging on the successful resolution of the problem.
At their December 2004 summit, EU leaders agreed to open accession talks with Turkey on 3 October 2005. One of the conditions specified was for Ankara to extend a 1963 association agreement with the EU's predecessor, the European Economic Community, to the Union's ten new member states. This group includes the Greek Cypriot state, which is not recognised by Turkey.

In July 2005, Turkey signed a protocol extending its customs union to the EU-10 states, but at the same time Ankara issued a declaration saying that its signature did not mean it had recognised the Republic of Cyprus. Turkey also refused to open its ports and airports to Cyprus, as it claims the EU has fallen short of having direct trade with the unrecognized Northern part of the island (EurActiv 08/10/10).

So far, only one accession chapter (science and research) has been provisionally closed. Eleven more have been opened, but eight remain blocked over Turkey's failure to implement the Ankara Protocol, which states that access should be granted and ports opened to vessels from the Republic of Cyprus.

News:Turkey warned over Cyprus reunification standstillSpeaking to the press on Monday (15 March) after meeting Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, Füle confirmed the European Commission's support for Turkey's EU bid but urged the country "to fully implement additional protocols and normalise relations with Cyprus".

"A comprehensive settlement on Cyprus would be an historic breakthrough to the benefit of both Turkey and the EU," Füle said.

However, Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoğlu said Turkey's accession talks should not be upset by "political problems that have no direct link to the EU process".

Recently, Turkey's EU minister and chief negotiator on accession, Egemen Bagiş, argued that since the Cyprus issue was not a prerequisite for the membership of Cyprus itself, neither should it be a prerequisite for the membership of another country (EurActiv 08/10/09).

Füle's predecessor, Olli Rehn, recently said that during his five years as enlargement commissioner all his ambitions had been realised with the exception of Cyprus, where reunification talks are still ongoing (EurActiv 26/11/09).

Of vice and virtue

In an article published in Turkish daily Hurriyet, Füle writes that he is convinced that Brussels and Ankara can turn around the vicious circle of a Cyprus stalemate and blocked accession negotiations. He expressed conviction that it will be possible to move "from a vicious circle into a virtuous one, provided there is political will of all actors involved".

Füle believes Turkey is a "key country" for the EU due to its location, size and strategic orientation. Repeating the answer he gave in the European Parliament at his confirmation hearing, when MEPs asked him if he could imagine a country like Turkey in the EU, he said his answer remained the same: "Yes, I can."

The enlargement commissioner also encouraged further progress in Turkish-Armenian relations. The two neighbouring countries sealed last September an historic deal to establish diplomatic ties and open their borders (EurActiv 01/09/09), but that process has since stalled.

Davutoğlu, however, said visa liberalisation must be granted to Turkey once it has fulfilled the requirements.

"Credibility needs building with concrete actions on both sides. We will continue our cooperation programme and support the ambitious reforms undertaken in Turkey. We need to continue working together on the negotiations, opening new chapters as well as making progress in the chapters that have already been opened. We need to overcome the deadlock over Cyprus. With the ongoing negotiations in Cyprus there is a unique opportunity to find a comprehensive settlement to reunify the island. I will use all the instruments at my disposal to support a solution to this problem," Füle writes.

In a commentary published in Turkish daily Zaman, Amanda Paul of the European Policy Centre, a Brussels think-tank, writes that on Cyprus "Turkey always claims to be driving forward a solution and continues to deny any wrongdoing in the past, rather continuing to state that its role in the Cyprus conflict was to bring peace to the island and placing the blame elsewhere for the continued division".

"It is the same when it comes to the membership negotiations with the EU. Blame for the stagnation of the talks always lies at the feet of the EU. But this approach should come as no big surprise given the fact that many Turks are simply unable to accept or acknowledge that their country, and the Ottoman Empire before it, has ever behaved in a way that was less than perfect. They are unable to deal with the past and have trouble acknowledging that sometimes Turkey does make mistakes. Rather they prefer to point the finger at others," Paul concludes.

http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/ ... ews-346881

[boomerang]

the problem with the turks is that they see the tree and miss the forrest...letting go of cyprus is a gem on a platter considering their aspirations of joining the EU and having an overall say what goes and how it goes around...

the shortsightness is unbelievable...

[Acikgoz]

Yes that's why the EU let in a country that was still divided. Shortsighted!
EU has without question gotten itself into a pickle - if the Cyprus issue was clear cut as the mad GCs would have you believe (mad referring to the ones that lie that it is clear cut - not all GCs), the President, the newspapers, the ministers, the lobby groups, the church etc. from the RoC would not need to expend such energy.

Tree for the forest - Yep South Cyprus and Turkey. That really is seeing the tree for the forest.

"Problem with the turks" - get a reality check and look in the mirror. The real statement is the "problem with shortsighted culturally challenged idiots."

[Me Ed]

The 'problem with the Turks' is that after a minor victory in the ECHR they then undo it all by passing laws that violate the fundamental human rights of it's own citizens.

[Acikgoz]

Ed what are you referring to?

[apc2010]

I think he is referring to a ban on Turkish ladies going abroad for fertilisation treatment?

[wallace]

I think he is referring to a ban on Turkish ladies going abroad for fertilisation treatment?

Here the link to the article

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php? ... 2010-03-15

[Me Ed]

I think the impartial BBC article says it all and it also states other laws that violate human rights:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8568733.stm

[boomerang]

Yes that's why the EU let in a country that was still divided. Shortsighted!
EU has without question gotten itself into a pickle - if the Cyprus issue was clear cut as the mad GCs would have you believe (mad referring to the ones that lie that it is clear cut - not all GCs), the President, the newspapers, the ministers, the lobby groups, the church etc. from the RoC would not need to expend such energy.

Tree for the forest - Yep South Cyprus and Turkey. That really is seeing the tree for the forest.

"Problem with the turks" - get a reality check and look in the mirror. The real statement is the "problem with shortsighted culturally challenged idiots."

really...do you deny the fact turkey will be the second largest country within the EU commanding more say?...and probably the biggest within 10 years?...

the goal is not to control cyprus but the whole of the EU...but in all seriousness i wouldn't expect a retard to actually see further from his nose...hence your post...

keep on giving the turkey haters ammunition while exposing the backwardness of the the turks...

as far as cyprus getting in the EU, a special thank you goes to the donkeytosh, he red carpeted the entry...from the application to eventual membership...

[Acikgoz]

It is apples and oranges, but fruit none the same. I couldn't believe it when I read it. Conceptually a little like the stem cell, abortion issues in the US. Not being a fervent religious man I don't see the fuss - let people decide for themselves and move on.
On the issue of comparative cases, the property ECHR was no minor victory as it pertains to the discussions on this forum.

Boomie,
Yes Turkey would be the 2nd largest EU member, going forward. The stats I see do not suggest they overtake Germany in pop size unless we have more arcane direction from the Turkish govt on babies.
(Side note here - the Popaz in our village openly told the GC families to have more children to secure the Greekness of the island - don't know if anyone else remembers those things. That was 45 years ago though.)

The economic impact - in respect of raising the standard of living of the EU block - of Turkey's entry is truly significant vis-a-vis south Cyprus. We're talking synergies in business, infrastructure, investment, labour distribution, trade, reduced red tape, reduced defence spending, etc. etc. etc.

Just think, Greece and Turkey, the continued level of synergy they have which is hindered in reaching its true potential by the Cyprus issue.

On the political front, a broader basis with further reach to influence peace both externally and internally.

This is the tree for the wood analogy you started with - so I hope I am putting it into context. 100 times the population of south Cyprus.

Clear now B.

Oh, Red carpet.... what red carpet, our leaders are still debating, the settlement is not that much closer to closure. The displaced people still are displaced. TCs still are embargoed. The GC shippers that could make a mint off of the transport from Turkey are still held at bay etc. etc. etc. Dirty filthy carpet.