MESSAGE TO EU: OPENING TURKISH PORTS TO GREEKS CYPRUS WILL BRING THE GOVERNMENT DOWN
Zaman Online, Turkey
July 2 2006
The European Union (EU) Council Enlargement Collaboration Group
discussed Turkey’s membership process during a visit to the Turkish
Parliament (TBMM).
Greek representatives in the delegation brought up the issue of opening
Turkish ports to Greeks and the extension of Greece’s territorial
waters in the Aegean Sea, which they regard as "act of war."
Gathering with the EU Accordance Commission members on Friday, one
of the Greek representatives revealed they expected Turkey to open
it ports to Greeks and Southern Cyprus demands the establishing air
service between Larnaka and Istanbul.
Chairman of the Turkish Parliament EU Accordance Commission Yasar Yakis
firmly responded, saying that Turkey will never open its ports to Greek
vessels as long as commercial isolation of Turkish Cyprus continues.
Onur Ovmen, member of the main opposition CHP, said, "No government
can open Turkish ports for Greeks; if it did, it would dissolve in
an hour."
Ovmen reproaching the Greeks remarked it is injustice for Turkey
to continuously bring to the agenda the Cyprus, Aegean and Armenian
issues in an effort to hinder Turkey’s membership.
He also underlined no government in Turkey will recognize the
unilateral Greek governments in Cyprus.
Surprised by Ovmen’s statement, the Greeks then brought the "act of
war" issue into the agenda.
Yakis first responded to the Greeks, declaring that Greece extended
the limit of its territorial waters 12 miles including Turkey’s ports
violating international law, and reminded, "If we were to accept it,
our harbors in Aegean Sea would have to be included within Greek
territorial waters."