Cyprus-Forum.com

[joe]

Britain urges Turkey to do the right thing on Cyprus

08/11/2006

Britain, one of Turkey's staunchest supporters in Europe, urged Ankara Wednesday to take the "necessary steps" to avoid having its EU talks suspended, after the EU commission warned Turkey over Cyprus.

Europe Minister Geoff Hoon reiterated London's backing for the vast mostly-Muslim state's ambitions to join the European Union, as well as those of other Balkan countries queuing up at the bloc's southeastern door.

"The British government has long championed enlargement, which has brought stability and prosperity not only to new member states but has been hugely beneficial to existing ones," he said in a statement.

Hoon said Turkey must continue to make progress towards meeting EU standards, adding: "I know that the Turkish Government is committed to reform and to providing its citizens with the quality of life they demand and deserve.

"I urge Turkey to reflect on just how much has been achieved in recent years and to be confident in continuing this process and taking the necessary steps forward," he said.

The comments came after the EU commission, the 25-nation's executive arm, warned in a report that Turkey must meet its obligations, in particular toward Cyprus, or its "overall progress" in EU talks will be affected.

France, one of the most skeptical EU states on Ankara's hopes, immediately called for the timetable governing Turkey's talks to join the European Union to be revised.

But Britain's Hoon said it would be wrong to act too rashly, pointing out that the Commission has pledged to make another recommendation on Turkey before a December EU summit in Brussels.

"Turkey must implement its obligation to all (EU) member states. If it fails to do so, the EU must act in accordance with its declaration of 21 September, 2005," he said, referring to a warning that failure would "affect the overall progress in the negotiations" with Turkey.

"But to speculate on such activity before the commission has provided its recommendation is premature."

[zan]

"But to speculate on such activity before the commission has provided its recommendation is premature."

[miltiades]

Zan , you are an extremely well educated man , and I'm certain that your ability to analyse events and arrive at a reasonable assumption are beyond question. You must therefore see the predicament faced by Turkey , just as I see it , and realize that the EU will not make amends to its policy and will insist that the recognition of Cyprus must be accepted by Turkey as a condition of continuing its membership process. Turkey is indeed in a corner , since the politicians know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the EU will not drop its demands for Turkeys recognition of Cyprus. The position of the Turkish government is precarious bearing in mind the strong influence that the military exerts. I think some concessionary moves are a must in order to make the recognition a reality.

[Viewpoint]

miltiades Turkey is saying she cannot recognize the "RoC" in its current form run purely by GCs, with non TC representation, once a solution has been found recognition will automatically follow. Recognition of the "RoC" as is, is for Turkey like shooting yourself in the foot as then Turkey will be faced with other issues which will involve piece meal approach rather than an over all solution. Try to look at it from the other side.

[zan]

Zan , you are an extremely well educated man , and I'm certain that your ability to analyse events and arrive at a reasonable assumption are beyond question. You must therefore see the predicament faced by Turkey , just as I see it , and realize that the EU will not make amends to its policy and will insist that the recognition of Cyprus must be accepted by Turkey as a condition of continuing its membership process. Turkey is indeed in a corner , since the politicians know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the EU will not drop its demands for Turkeys recognition of Cyprus. The position of the Turkish government is precarious bearing in mind the strong influence that the military exerts. I think some concessionary moves are a must in order to make the recognition a reality.

What I do know is that what we read in the newspapers and what is put out by the politicians is not always the reality of the situation.

I’ll try not to be too cryptic but I will also try not to bore you with too much detail. Perhaps this example will help.

A few years ago my eldest son was not quiet being bullied but he had a boisterous friend that would not get the message that it was not right to lash out at my son every time they had a slight disagreement. My son complained to his teacher and to my wife and me but it did not stop. It got as far as the headmaster giving a speech at one of their assemblies, with no real reference to any one incident or boy, that they should not retaliate and should always report it to a teacher. Regardless it carried on.

My advise to my son was that on one of these occasions he should hit this boy back as hard as he could on the arm and shout his annoyance at him so that the whole school could hear. I made it quiet clear that it should be on the arm and not in anger but with controlled intent. My son was really worried about this because of the headmasters warning and that he would get in trouble. My party line was that if I were called to the school I would pretend to be very angry with my son but that he should know that it was all a front. It worked and they have been friends ever since.


The point is what is really going on behind the closed doors of the EU. As we all know the Americans pushed Greece into the EU, when they were no where near ready so what is more important to the EU and America. Is it the Cyprus problem or is it Turkeys entry into the EU. Only they know that for sure and we can speculate until the cows come home but it will not make a blind bit of difference. What Hoon says and what he really means could be two different things and the last sentence that I highlighted goes some way to making my point.

[saravakos]

well theres no way the EU can be expected to recognise a pseudo-state. whereas Cyprus is a full member of the EU.

[miltiades]

VP , can you also look at it through the eyes of the whole world. Here we have a nation that is recognised by all ,without exemption , and here we have Turkey which occupies part of that nations land refusing to recognise the invaded country. I understand the predicament faced , but it was not Cyprus that invaded and displaced 200 thousand natives. You have expressed your views on many occasions and they are the views of a partitionist and of an individual that wants part of his native country to be absorbed and become part of Turkey.
When Europe therefore insists that Turkey must recognise Cyprus you can not dismiss it as propaganda by the ROC
and I wish you would stop using inverted commas when referring to the ROC , it is so blatantly absurdly hilariously grotesquely unreal.
The Cyprus government is not without faults , and as I posted above , concessionary moves are needed in order to move ahead. We need Turkey in Europe , and Turkey needs Europe , let us not allow stubborn positions to rock the boat. Most people , unless coloured blind can tell white from red and black from white, and the ROC is the only recognised legal government of Cyprus , it should and it must repressent all Cypriots and all Cypriots must participate in governing our island, apart from those that wish to be governed by foreign powers and they have a perfect choice to make.

[Viewpoint]

miltiades

VP , can you also look at it through the eyes of the whole world. Here we have a nation that is recognised by all ,without exemption

What about Turkey?

What about us aren't an important factor? the people you claim to represent do not recognize you, the people you have to negotiate with do not recognize you, the people you say you want to live with don't recognize, don't all there count for anything? If they don't then you should have solved your problem out with the people that do recognize you.

nd here we have Turkey which occupies part of that nations land refusing to recognise the invaded country. I understand the predicament faced

Im glad that you acknowledge the fact that Turkey cannot recognize a country whereby the constitutional order and TC representation is dis-functional and imperfect.

but it was not Cyprus that invaded and displaced 200 thousand natives.

was this all one sided? weren't their developments from both sides which made that bomb explode?

You have expressed your views on many occasions and they are the views of a partitionist and of an individual that wants part of his native country to be absorbed and become part of Turkey.

Not exactly in that sense, my partitionist views are true as I cannot see us agreeing reunification and my community being absorbed by Turkey is the preferred alternative to living in GC state as a minority in my own country being absorbed by the numerically larger GC population.

When Europe therefore insists that Turkey must recognise Cyprus you can not dismiss it as propaganda by the ROC
and I wish you would stop using inverted commas when referring to the ROC , it is so blatantly absurdly hilariously grotesquely unreal.

But I do not recognize it, if we are free to express ourselves then I am free to use inverted commas as I see fit, am I not?
Turkey will only recognize Cyprus after a solution otherwise she will committing political suicide.

The Cyprus government is not without faults , and as I posted above , concessionary moves are needed in order to move ahead.

Totally agree.

We need Turkey in Europe , and Turkey needs Europe , let us not allow stubborn positions to rock the boat. Most people , unless coloured blind can tell white from red and black from white, and the ROC is the only recognised legal government of Cyprus , it should and it must repressent all Cypriots and all Cypriots must participate in governing our island, apart from those that wish to be governed by foreign powers and they have a perfect choice to make.

the "RoC" does not represent me until I recognize it and in its current form there is noway I will accept it as being my country, its a GC state for Gcs. If we are to achieve a united Cyprus we have to find a solution that both sides can commit and stick to then your utopia of everyone being Cypriot may develop over time.

[humanist]

Britain is sending mixed messages to everyone including Turkey and cannot be trusted. Thei aim is to buy every bit of avaliable land in Cyprus , North and South. They want to own Cyprus and they are covertly succeeding. And Cypriots are soooooooooooo blind to it. At least there will not be a Cyprus Problem then. Think about it!

The fact that the Oram's case was heard in UK courts and a rulling passed by UK judge. Is enough to tell me that the Brit's are on to you. Wake up Cyprus! especially my friends in the North who see the Orams case as a victory. They'll buy so much land that when Turkey is a full member of the EU and a solution is found to the Cyprus problem, the Brit's will have every right to be there and you will not be able to do a darn thing about it. Same goes for the rest of Cyprus. Especially Paphos.

[Noaxetogrind]

I have read some pathetic comments but the ones from Humanist take the biscuit.

Where does he expect the Orams' case concerning UK citizens and their assets in the UK to be heard? Outer Mongolia?

I guess the one concerning Britain's aim to buy up Cyprus is meant as a laugh because it is laughable. It is a pleasant enough island but that is all it is.