EU PULLS THE RUG ON TURKISH TALKS OVER REFUSAL TO LIFT CYPRUS BLOCKADE
by David Charter, Suna Erdem Istanbul
The Times (London)
November 30, 2006, Thursday
* Negotiations on eight issues halted
* Blair denounces ‘serious mistake’
Turkey reacted furiously yesterday to the proposed suspension of a
large section of its talks on joining the EU as a punishment for its
refusal to open trade with Cyprus.
Eight of 34 areas of negotiation will be frozen under the European
Commission’s plan until Ankara fulfils an agreement signed last year
to open its ports to Cyprus, an EU member that it does not recognise.
The Commission’s move was criticised by Britain, Sweden and Spain,
but -in a sign of the faultlines within the Community over Turkish
accession -was applauded by France and Germany.
Turkey itself was defiant, insisting that it was not prepared to make
any further concessions. "We have set out the framework (for progress
on Cyprus)," Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish Prime Minister, said.
"If they are approaching the issue with the idea that they might grab
a new concession, then we have no concession to make."
He was referring to earlier statements that Turkey would open its
ports only if the EU made good a pledge to end the economic isolation
of the breakaway Turkish enclave of northern Cyprus. Nicosia has
blocked any such relaxation.
Ankara is unlikely to make any move on Cyprus until after elections
next year; an increasingly nationalistic public is likely to punish
any sign of weakening on what is a pet issue for hardliners.
In spite of the blow to negotiations, Mr Erdogan said that Turkey
would continue to make progress towards membership. "This is a long
road -previously the date mentioned (for accession) was 2014. In
the meantime we will continue talking and working on the remaining
chapters and continue on our way just as before."
Britain backed Turkey, describing the Commission’s position as
"disappointingly tough" and voicing concerns that it could fuel
anti-European sentiment and drive the country away from the EU.
Tony Blair said that the EU’s proposal was a "serious mistake", while
Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the Spanish Prime Minister, urged EU
leaders to keep the door open to Ankara. Mr Blair’s concerns were
shared by Carl Bildt, the Swedish Foreign Minister, who spoke of a
possible calamity if EU leaders followed the tough Commission line
next month. "If you put the brakes on too hard there is a risk of the
collateral damage being very extensive," he said. "If it comes to a
standstill, we are talking about a strategic calamity for the EU in
a rather volatile, sensitive part of our neighbourhood."
But Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, who takes over the rotating
EU presidency on January 1, approvingly called the proposal a strong
signal and President Chirac, a powerful opponent of Turkish membership,
insisted that the EU "had no other choice".
The furore ensures that another row over Turkey will dominate the
EU heads of government summit on December 15, which will take the
final decision on the sanctions after they are considered by foreign
ministers earlier that week.
As part of the punishment, talks on other areas of the accession
process could be opened but will not be able to be signed off until
Turkey resolves its blockade of Cypriot vessels, Olli Rehn, the
Enlargement Commissioner, said. He added that Turkey could score a
"golden goal" before the foreign ministers’ meeting.
Christodoulos Pashiardis, a Cypriot Government spokesman, said that
freezing some aspects of the talks while allowing discussions on
other areas was not a punishment.
Bronwen Maddox, page 40
* STICKING POINTS
Cyprus Turkey does not recognise the southern part of the divided
island Armenian genocide the Government will not acknowledge Turkey’s
role in the massacre of hundreds of thousands of Armenians between 1915
and 1917 Article 301/1 states that "public denigration of Turkishness
shall be punishable by imprisonment". It was used to bring charges
against the writer Orhan Pamuk, who acknowledged the Armenian
genocide The Kurds the minority group continues to be persecuted,
with prosecutions brought against Kurds who use their language in
public life. Only Turkish can be taught as a first language in schools
Clash of civilisations the predominantly Muslim culture has attracted
accusations that Turkey lacks European credentials. France’s Interior
Minister says that Turkey "has no place in Europe".
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
