FRANCE INSISTS THAT TURKEY SATISFIES DEMANDS OF EU REGARDING CYPRUS
By Hakob Chakrian
AZG Armenian Daily
10/11/2006
On November 8, the European Commission confirmed the report on Turkey
and EU enlargement strategy document that demand that Turkey opens its
airports and ports to the Republic of Cyprus and to revise article 301
of the new Turkish Penal Code before the EU summit on December 14-15.
The European Commission also put other demands before Turkey. Despite
PM Erdogan’s statement that no step forward will be taken as long
as the international blockade of northern Cyprus continues. Yet, his
government considered the report acceptable and the Foreign Ministry
officially stated that "though it is rough, it is impartial."
Meanwhile, Turkish printed media varies in its replies to the
report. It does not try to objectively discuss the report but instead
to use it against Erdogan’s government. As to the Western media,
it looks at the report as "an ultimatum for Turkey and a last chance
for Cyprus."
The same day, according to Turkish public TV, foreign minister of
France, Philippe Douste-Blazy, responded to the report stating:
"Turkey is obliged to fulfill the European Commission’s demand on
Cyprus the soonest. As one can see, it avoids the obligations. If
Turkey does not take steps in this direction by the year-end, then
its membership to the EU should be reconsidered."