Cyprus-Forum.com

[joe]

MEPs furious after Turkey withdraws welcome mat

04/10/2006

Turkey has caused outrage among European parliamentarians by cancelling a long-planned visit of MEPs because the delegation includes a Cypriot.

"We do not let Turkey dictate the membership of our delegations", the chairman of the European Parliament's environment committee, Karl-Heinz Florenz, said Wednesday.

The delegation to Turkey planned to hold talks with Turkish ministers on environmental, health, agriculture and energy matters.

The Turkish representation to the EU met Florenz on Monday "during which it was demanded that the European Parliament removes Cypriot MEP Marios Matsakis from the delegation or cancels the visit," the European People's Party, the biggest grouping in the parliament, said in a statement.

Turkey accuses Matsakis of anti-Turkish propaganda. After Florenz refused to remove Matsakis, the Turkish representation cancelled the visit.

"The reaction from Turkey is unacceptable," said Florenz.

"This incident shows that Turkey still has deficits and is not ready for Europe," he added.

Brussels has recently raised concerns over free speech in Turkey after a string of intellectuals were brought to trial under a much-criticized article of the penal code.

The code's Article 301 foresees up to three years' imprisonment for "denigrating the Turkish national identity" and "insulting state institutions."

The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, will issue a report next month on Turkey's progress in its membership talks with the EU, which began in October 2005.

Apart from human rights concerns, the talks have also been clouded by Turkey's refusal to open its air and sea ports to Cyprus, an EU-member state Ankara does not recognize.

The EU has warned Turkey the talks could be suspended if it refuses to grant trade privileges to Cyprus under a customs union agreement with the 25-nation bloc.

Ankara insists that Cypriot ships and planes will remain barred from Turkish ports unless the EU delivers on its promise to ease trade restrictions on the island's breakaway Turkish Cypriot state, recognized only by Turkey.

[cypezokyli]

hi joe , and thank you for the articles you share with us.

may i ask you that you also share the wed-adresses when you post such articles ?
thank you

[MR-from-NG]

Well done Turkey. The man is a nuisance and tactless. Just shows Turkey has principles and balls of steel.

[steveash]

Well done Turkey. The man is a nuisance and tactless. Just shows Turkey has principles and balls of steel.

Shame that they are going to end up like Cuba tho!!!

[MR-from-NG]

Shame that they are going to end up like Cuba tho!!!

Says who?

Show me one thread of evidence that this is the future of Turkey. Are you on the same planet as us Mr Steveash Charalambous?

[steveash]

Well if they are going to complain because they do not like the nationality of 1 of the visiting EU nationals, where will it end???, im sorry but that sort of behavour sounds like someone was throwing their dummy out of the pram, can they just not grow up and deal with the issues in a responsible grown up manner please

[MR-from-NG]

Nationality is not the issue here. The man is a nuisance and tactless. Turkey had every right to cancel the visit. Those who know him will agree the man is an arsehole.

Look at the archives of the Cyprus Mail for stories covering the antiquities he stole and how he behaved during the home-raids and investigations by the ROC police. The man is demented. This man to be an EU MP is a disgrace.

[elko]

Matsakis is a disgrace. They know the reasons very well why he was not wanted in the delegation but see how the article is twisted. What a mentality.
I am in favour of free speech and always criticize the Turkish Criminal Code about it but look at Europe, who is talking. It is a crime in France, Austria and so on to argue that the Armenian Genocide did not take place. Whether true or not is another matter. Are these the countries who are going to teach Turkey freedom of speech? Hypocrites!!
ismet

[souroul]

hahahahaha

[bg_turk]

Well if they are going to complain because they do not like the nationality of 1 of the visiting EU nationals, where will it end???, im sorry but that sort of behavour sounds like someone was throwing their dummy out of the pram, can they just not grow up and deal with the issues in a responsible grown up manner please

It is not about his nationality, rather his past behaviour. That man snatched a Turkish flag from the border, and was conviceted in the courts of TRNC. It is a shame that he is even a member of the EU environmental comission.