SUMMIT HARD ON TURKEY IN EUROPE

Hurriyet
Dec 12 2008
Turkey

BRUSSELS – Turkish diplomats had a rough time in Brussels during a
foreign ministers meeting this week, with European Union President
France refusing to call the process "accession" talks, which would
imply the possibility of full EU membership for Turkey, as well as
its harsh criticism of Turkey’s relations with Cyprus and the slow
pace of its reforms.

French opposition to full Turkish membership in the European Union was
once again carved into an official document, as the final declaration
of the summit of heads of states, which started yesterday, made no
reference to "accession" as the final aim of the talks.

While Turkey has been enjoying a long holiday, Turkish diplomats
in Brussels have had a tough time ahead of the summit. Due to the
determination of the French presidency of the EU not to discuss
enlargement issues during the summit, the conclusions concerning
Turkey were sealed at the meeting of foreign ministers Monday.

The declaration, to be officially adopted today, reflects the
unpleasant nature of relations between Ankara and Brussels, as well
as the ongoing objection by France to the word "accession," which
implies membership to the EU.

France critical of Turkey France not only avoided labeling
Turkey’s process "accession negotiations" but also used the term
"Intergovernmental conference" instead of "accession conference," to
describe the event to be held next week to open two new negotiation
chapters.

Admitting that the insistence to omit the word "accession" is the
reflection of their President Nicholas Sarkozy’s well-known position
against Turkey, French sources said hopes for a different text during
the French presidency would only be unrealistic.

Although the French position is nothing new, a strong warning for
Ankara to refrain from threatening Greece and Cyprus in disputed seas
has added to problems. Turkey’s obstruction to the oil prospects
of Greek Cyprus in the Mediterranean found a considerable place in
the EU’s declaration. The wording conveyed a European perception of
Turkish naval activities as a source of threat to its neighbors.

Ports must be opened "Turkey needs to commit unequivocally to good
neighborly relations and to the peaceful settlement of disputes
in accordance with the United Nations Charter, having recourse, if
necessary, to the International Court of Justice. The Union urges the
avoidance of any kind of threat, source of friction or action which
could damage good, neighborly relations and the peaceful settlement
of disputes," the declaration read.

The Council also recalled its expectations of Turkey to open ports
and airports to Greek Cypriot vessels and added that "progress is now
urgently awaited." The European Union, which suspended negotiation
in eight chapters December 2006 due to Turkey’s refusal to open its
ports, will review the progress on the issue November 2009, which
marks a new consequential deadline for Ankara.

Disappointed by the harsh EU reaction in the document, Ankara argued
Brussels should acknowledge that Greek Cypriots tried to undermine the
ongoing peace talks on the island by undertaking unilateral activities,
ignoring the rights of Turkish Cypriots.

Meanwhile, French sources claimed that they saved the opening of
two new chapters with Turkey by penning a declaration favorable to
Greek Cyprus. During the technical preparations for the chapter on
free movement of capital, Ankara included an agreement signed with
the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, or TRNC, in the negotiation
framework document sent to Brussels.

Since Greek Cypriots were outraged with the use of the term TRNC, which
implies an independent state for Turkish Cypriots, they threatened
to veto the opening of the chapter. France, not wishing to fail
in its promises to open two chapters with Turkey before it hands
the presidency to the Czech Republic, intervened with a formula to
remove the agreement from the real document and annex it as a cover
letter. According to French sources this incident was an example of
Turkey not handling technical negotiations well.

Slow pace of reforms "Despite our efforts for a fair attitude
towards Turkey during our EU presidency and our support for Turkey’s
temporary seat at the United Nations Security Council, all we get is
nothing but complaints," a French diplomat said, on the condition of
anonymity. France wants Turkish permission for the participation in
military procurements and also the Nabucco pipeline project.

Ankara excluded Paris from all big-scale tenders after a lower house of
the French Parliament adopted a bill making it a crime to deny Armenian
genocide allegations in 2006. The European Union also noted with regret
that Turkey was making very limited progress on political reform.

"The Council is disappointed to note that over the year just passed
Turkey has made only limited progress, particularly in regards to
political reforms," read the summit declaration. Asking Turkey to
redouble its efforts to implement the measures so long awaited,
the European Union underlined that more needs to be done to reform
the judiciary, fight corruption and torture, guarantee freedom of
expression and religion, and protect minority rights.

Meanwhile, EU heads condemned all terrorist attacks and violence in
Turkish territory in the strongest terms and expressed full solidarity
with the people of Turkey. However, they also reiterated expectations
that Turkey must conduct its fight against terrorism with due regard
for human rights, fundamental freedoms and international law, while
preserving regional peace and stability.