New EU document to call on Turkey to ‘normalise’ relations with Cyprus
By Myria Antoniadou in Brussels

Cyprus Mail, Cyprus
June 28 2005

ANKARA is being called upon to “normalise” its relations with all EU
member states, including the Republic of Cyprus, in the framework
of negotiations’ with Turkey to be discussed by the Commissioners
tomorrow.

Sources believe this reference is of particular importance to
Nicosia, as it could use it in future discussions within the Council.
For example, Nicosia can refuse to open the transport chapter during
the negotiations with Ankara, scheduled to start on October 3, unless
Turkey opens its ports and airports to Cypriot interests.

The framework also calls on Turkey to support the continued efforts
for a settlement in Cyprus and to make further steps in creating a
favourable climate.

At the same time, it asks Turkey to fulfil its obligations regarding
the Association Council (customs union) and in particular to extend
the additional protocol to all member states.

The protocol has been approved by the EU and but it still remains to
be signed by the Turkish government.

However, sources told the Mail they did not believe Ankara would sign
the protocol till mid or end of September, just before negotiations
begin, as it is viewed as de facto recognition of Cyprus and therefore
a very contentious issue in Turkey.

The negotiations framework also calls upon Turkey to respect human
rights as well as relevant European case law. The latter is considered
important to Cyprus because of decisions such as the Titina Loizidou
case by the European Court of Human Rights.

Some parties in Brussels view these references as a change from the
position held towards Cyprus by the previous enlargement Commissioner
Gunter Verheugen. His successor Olli Rehn appears to be more open
to discussion and less inclined towards a blame game, while at the
same time maintaining a good relationship with Cypriot Commissioner
Markos Kyprianou.

The document will be sent to the Council for approval, and therefore
nobody knows its final references.

The government is expected to try adding more elements, like the need
for the withdrawal of Turkish troops and settlers or an end to the
illegal construction in the north, but this is difficult to achieve
in such a brief document. It may feel it has more chance to have them
included in the ‘revised accession partnership’ to be finalised after
the start of talks. The framework of the negotiations with Turkey also
refers to the need for good neighbourly relations, which is of interest
to Greece, Armenia and the Kurds. Reflecting the discussion going
on within the EU over the past weeks, there is a clear reference to
the fact that the negotiations are “open ended” the Mail has learned.