Cyprus-Forum.com

[joe]

Turkey must respect its EU commitments


26/09/2006

French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin warned Turkey on Monday that it would face consequences if it failed to fully open its ports and airports to Cypriot vessels and aircraft.

Speaking during a joint press conference with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, de Villepin said it “is very important that Turkey understand it must respect its commitments, respect them in spirit and in letter, otherwise the

Europeans will be obliged to draw their conclusions”.

Turkey, an EU candidate country, refuses to implement a Protocol extending the Ankara Agreement (Customs Union) to the ten new EU member states, which among others provides for the opening of Turkish ports and airports to Cypriot ships and airplanes.

[Viewpoint]

Why do you think that is Joe?

[Piratis]

Why do you think that is Joe?

They should honor their signature. The terms were very clear to Turkey and nobody forced them to sign something that they did not agree.

This is not just about Cyprus but about the credibility of EU itself.

Turkey should decide if she wants to continue the illegal occupation of an EU country or join EU. She can not have both. Eventually they will have to choose and the sooner they decide the better.

[Pyrpolizer]

The recent announcements of Oli Rend the EU elargement closes with the Bulgaria and Poland seems to me it will be difficult for Turkey to evensecure a special relation in the end.
Even for that however she has to oblidge extremely soon and fast, cause nobody seems willing to wait her.

[Issy1956]

Pyrpolizer,
This is not good news. It will soon become apparent to Turkey that the EU dream is an unattainable goal. What then for TPap and the European solution to the Cyprus problem? A number of us have been saying that this strategy is flawed and the best chance for a settlement was with the rejected Annan plan.
If Turkeys EU path is suspended where do we look for progress in the Cyprob?

[Viewpoint]

Why do you think that is Joe?

They should honor their signature. The terms were very clear to Turkey and nobody forced them to sign something that they did not agree.

This is not just about Cyprus but about the credibility of EU itself.

Turkey should decide if she wants to continue the illegal occupation of an EU country or join EU. She can not have both. Eventually they will have to choose and the sooner they decide the better.

I agree.

What will happen to GC leverage then?

[Pyrpolizer]

Issy1956

My position in this forum-and I beleive I discussed this matter a lot of times - is that Turkey would never become a full member. She will simply end up with a special relation. So I personally never had dreams, and I beleive this is a common secret everybody knows including Turkey and including Hn President Mr Tassos Papadopoulos.

The point is that either with a special relation or a full membership the road is exactly the same. So the leverage is still there.

Turkey will be foolish to chose to go away from the EU.

I am not happy for her not implementing her obligations, I will not be happy if she choses to abandon EU. On the other hand, if she choses to END herself being the present day state we know, let he do it.

[Pyrpolizer]

In one of my discussions with Kifeas he insisted Turkey will become full member in 15 years, I insisted not even 25 are enough to simply end to a special relation.

I personally never had any dreams about the extend of any leverage we might have.

[Viewpoint]

So lets assume Turkey chooses the TRNC over EU accession, where does that leave the south? You are avoiding the question, how would you apply pressure on a disinterested Turkey?

[Pyrpolizer]

Your assumption is wrong to start with. In case she walks out of the EU she will not do it because of "trnv" but because she would perhaps thinks she can do better pursuing other paths.