MAJORITY OF TURKS OPPOSE CEDING ON MATTER OF CYPRUS

Gulf Times, Qatar
Nov 8 2006

ANKARA: More than two-thirds of Turks say membership talks with the
European Union should be suspended if the bloc maintains demands for
Ankara to give ground in a trade row over Cyprus, a poll released
yesterday showed.

Only one in five of those questioned said Ankara should pursue
accession negotiations despite EU pressure over the divided island,
compared to 70% who said it should not.

Ten per cent were undecided, according to the poll conducted among
1,100 people from October 30 to November 4 by the International
Strategic Research Organisation, an independent think-tank.

The survey was released on the eve of a critical report by the European
Commission on Turkey’s progress in membership talks with the EU that
began in October 2005.

The report is expected to stress that Turkey has still failed to open
its air and sea ports to Cyprus, an EU member it does not recognise,
as part of a customs union with the bloc.

Turkey says it will bar Cyprus from its ports until the EU delivers on
pledges to ease the international isolation of the breakaway Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognised only by Ankara.

According to the survey, 63% said they do not believe Turkey and the
EU will reach a compromise on the trade row over Cyprus, compared to
26% who said a compromise was possible.

Opening Turkish ports to Cyprus will not ease relations between Ankara
and Brussels, 74% said, while only 13% believed it would.

The poll also confirmed the downward trend in Turkey’s once-high
enthusiasm for EU membership: only 50% said they support Turkey’s
accession, down from 75% two years ago, while 45% said they are
opposed.

Those who believe the EU is not treating Turkey "sincerely and fairly"
total 81%, compared to only 2.0% who said it is.

Asked which countries most hampered Turkey’s accession to the EU,
39% named France, 21.2% Greece and 14% Cyprus.

Analysts say Turkish public opinion has gradually lost faith in the
EU since the start of accession talks, wearied by a widespread debate
on whether Turkey, a mainly Muslim country of more than 70mn, has a
place in Europe.

The pressure over Cyrpus and European calls for Turkey to recognise
the World War I killings of Armenians as genocide added to the
disillusionment, they say.