E.U. CONDITIONS
By Derya Sazak

Turkish Press
Sept 29 2005

MILLIYET- The policy of creating difficulties for Turkey’s European
Union membership continues. A vote on the Customs Union Additional
Protocol was postponed at the European Parliament yesterday.

Christian Democrats want the protocol to be voted on at our Parliament
first. Some EU circles consider the declaration which Turkey released
during its adoption of the Customs Union to Southern Cyprus to be
‘discrimination.’ EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said
that the course of membership talks with the EU might be affected
if Turkey doesn’t fulfill its obligations concerning implementation
of the additional protocol. It seems that our membership talks will
start on Oct. 3. However, if Turkey doesn’t create an atmosphere
for recognizing Southern Cyprus by opening its harbors for Greek
Cypriot ships and planes by fall 2006, our EU membership talks could
be suspended. A draft decision calling for recognizing the so-called
Armenian genocide as a precondition for Turkey’s full EU membership
was signed by French Socialist parliamentarians yesterday.

Meanwhile, a suggestion for privileged partnership was rejected.

Despite Ankara’s insistence, the framework document, the roadmap for
Turkish-EU relations, doesn’t mention it. However, it states that at
the end of ‘open-ended negotiations’ Turkey can become a member only
after the EU institutions are restructured. Ankara is ready to leave
the table if new conditions block the way to full membership. The
dilemma within the EU before Oct. 3 is growing; some say that the
promises given to Turkey must be kept, but on the other hand there
are other circles favoring ending relations before the membership
talks start. The framework article leaked from Brussels stating that
Ankara wouldn’t block Greek Cyprus’ international group membership was
a last-minute surprise. In return, keeping permanent restrictions on
free movement even if Turkey becomes an EU member is another sanction
not applied to other EU members. The EU hill is getting steeper,
and conditions for Turkey’s EU membership are being prepared. During
the discussions on last Dec. 17, Oct. 3, etc, a ‘game over’ trap is
being prepared with the Cyprus timetable for 2006. The government
will have difficulties making a decision next Monday.