ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News
A fresh effort by some European Union countries is aiming to remove the obstacles to a strong cooperation between the NATO and the EU by paving the way for Turkey to sign a security agreement with Brussels.
“We believe the EU should conclude a security agreement with Turkey in the first half of 2011. This would also facilitate Turkey’s participating in the work of the European Defense Agency. Separately, we believe in parallel we should ensure Cyprus’ fullest participation in EU – NATO strategic dialogue,” read a letter signed by 15 EU countries, obtained by the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review. The letter was sent to Catherine Ashton, the EU’s high representative for foreign policy, and Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO’s Secretary-General.
A non-EU member of NATO, Turkey is asking for equal rights and a say in the EU-led military operations that will make use of NATO assets and command facilities, basing its position on the “Berlin Plus” formula laid out in 2002. The fundamental reason for this strict stance is Greek Cyprus’ veto on Turkey’s participation in the European Defense Agency, or EDA. The stalemate blocks the two institutions, the NATO and EU, from deepening their strategic dialogue.
“There are some concrete steps that we can take both in the European Union and in NATO to play our part in improving the relationship. We underline our commitment to strong and meaningful dialogue between Turkey and the EU,” the letter reads. These 15 countries have also asked the EU to accomplish a security agreement with Turkey, something that has been blocked by Greek Cyprus.
The formula currently floating around European capitals envisions Turkish participation in the EDA while Greek Cyprus will be able to take its seat in the EU-NATO meetings. Helga Schmid, director of the policy unit of the European Council paid a visit to Turkey last week where she met Turkish diplomats to take the pulse of Ankara on this issue.
“Our position is the same. We have not heard anything new so far. It has become obvious that this problem will not be overcome unless the Cyprus issue has been resolved,” a Turkish diplomat told the Daily News.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php? ... 2011-05-13
