PanARMENIAN.Net

Moscow and Ankara – Double Task for EU
24.11.2006 16:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At the end of 2006 the European
Union experiences complex relations with its two major
eastern neighbors – Russia and Turkey, reports Le
Monde. On one hand, the EU aspires to conclude a new
agreement on partnership but runs across a rejection
to ratify an energy charter that could make Turkey’s
market open. On the other hand, the EU tries to
successfully complete the membership talks, which are
impeded by the unsettled Cypriot issue. Ankara has not
opened its air and sea ports for Cyprus despite the
protocol on customs union. According to Charles Grant,
the director of the Center for European Reform, Russia
and Turkey have much in common. Both states stand with
one foot in Asia and the other in Europe. Both states
doubt their European identity imposed by modernists
and rejected by traditionalists.

The dissimilarity of the EU member states tie-up its
actions tearing it between tough positions of some
states and indulgence of the others. Actually both
Russia and Turkey are nor `suitable’ partners and the
ties between the two states have strengthened.

This reconciliation coincided with the consolidation
of anti-European mood, which doesn’t contribute
resumption of dialogue. That is why the EU should find
a way to resume trust relationship with both neighbors
and Europeans will need mastership and decisiveness to
come out of the deadlock. Be Turkey an EU member or
not, the final goal of the Europeans is to create
zones of peace and cooperation at the border with the
Moslem world. Ankara and Moscow can play a significant
role in realization of this plan but only in case they
are deeply engaged in the European politics, reports InoSMI.