Cyprus-Forum.com

[joe]

Merkel to push Turkey over Cyprus recognition
Web posted at: 10/5/2006 8:43:0
Source ::: AFP

berlin • German Chancellor Angela Merkel will urge Turkey to officially recognise Cyprus when she makes a two-day visit there this week, German government sources said yesterday.

Turkey is under increasing pressure over its stance on Cyprus as it attempts to join the European Union, and the comments came as it emerged Ankara had cancelled a planned visit of European lawmakers because of the presence of a Greek Cypriot in the delegation.

Merkel was expected to remind Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the country must adhere to the criteria set down for its membership and that includes recognising Cyprus, which is an EU member, the sources said. “If there are no clear signs from Turkey that it is prepared to apply the Ankara Protocol, an accident is inevitable,” one said.

“There will be no halfway house,” the source added, explaining that either Turkey respects all the criteria or it will not be allowed into the EU.

The Ankara Protocol is a customs agreement binding the EU, Turkey and the 10 countries which joined the EU in May 2004, including Cyprus.

Turkey signed it in July 2005, but continues to deny Cyprus-flagged ships access to its ports.

Germany takes over the rotating six-month presidency of the European Union on January 1. Merkel’s visit, which starts today, will be the first time she has visited Turkey since she became chancellor last year. Her conservative Christian Democrats have expressed reservations about Turkey’s attempts to join the EU and Merkel herself has said she would prefer a “privileged partnership” with the predominantly Muslim country rather than full membership.

Karl-Heinz Florenz, meanwhile, chairman of the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, on Wednesday criticised the decision of Turkey to cancel a visit of European deputies because of the presence in the group of Marios Matsakis, a Greek Cypriot.

Members of the committee were due in Turkey to meet four Turkish ministers to discuss matters relating to the environment, health, agriculture and energy, the Conservative German deputy said. But in a meeting on Monday evening, Turkish officials in Brussels demanded that Matsakis not come. When this was refused, Turkey cancelled the entire visit.

A Turkish diplomat defended the decision, saying that Ankara’s objections were not due to Matsakis’s nationality.

“It is not because he is a Cypriot deputy, it’s because it is Marios Matsakis,” the diplomat said. “Every time that he has been in Turkey he has sparked a large controversy.”

[souroul]

its a good thing that germany is up next. they seem to be on our side for a change

[andreasv]

I think if the EU knows what is good for its member states it will KEEP TURKEY OUT

[MR-from-NG]

I think if the EU knows what is good for its member states it will KEEP TURKEY OUT

Yeah your right andreasv, Turkey is out for the moment. It's The turn of the donkeys, and the first lot are in. Donkeys pretending to be fucking race horses.

[Sotos]

Cyprus made the reforms very fast. That is why it was accepted. Turkey is the donkey. They move slow and usually they are so stubborn they refuse to move at all!

[MR-from-NG]

Turkey is the donkey. They move slow and usually they are so stubborn they refuse to move at all!