EU: NEED TO RESTART TALKS WITH TURKEY, WISE MEN SAY

ANSAmed.info
E12.WAM10236.html
Sept 7 2009
Italy

(ANSAmed) – BRUSSELS – An appeal was launched today in Brussels by
the ‘wise men’ of the Independent Commission on Turkey to restart
negotiations on EU membership with Ankara, which have been caught in a
vicious circle for four years. The wise men – former Finnish President
and Nobel prizewinner for Peace Martti Ahtisaari; fomer EU Commissioner
Emma Bonino, Italy, and Hans van den Broek, Holland; former French
Premier Michel Rocard; former Spanish Foreign Minister Marcelino Oreja;
Austria’s former Secretary General for Foreign Affairs Albert Roahn –
presented their report ‘Turkey in Europe, breaking the vicious circle’,
taking the opportunity to make observations on the recent turbulent
years in relations between Ankara and the EU. It all started with
a ‘paradox’, said Rohan: "Since negotiations started in 2005, the
virtuous circle has turned into a vicious circle". There are several
reasons for this change of tack: the thorny issue of Cyprus, with the
failed 2004 referendum over the reunification of the island following
the ‘no’ vote by the Greek-Cypriots, the slowing-down of reforms by
Ankara, and also "the opposition to Turkey’s entry on the part of
several European leaders and public opinion in many countries". The
positions of the leaders, said Rohan, "are in stark contradiction to
the unanimous decision to open adhesion negotiations taken by heads of
State and government in December 2004. This attitude has given Turkey
the impression of not being wanted, of being treated differently from
other candidates. But this approach is contrary to European interests:
Turkey is a strategic country for energy routes, its presence in the
Caucasus, its economic strength in Central Asia, and its negotiating
weight in the Middle East". The result is that now more than half
of the 35 chapters of negotiations for adhesion are blocked, either
because of Cyprus’ veto, as a response to the lack of full application
of the Ankara Protocol on the part of Turkey, which regulates customs
relations with the 27 countries, or because of the block placed
informally by other chapters. France has blocked five chapters,
preferring to focus on partnership rather than integration. Austria,
Germany and Holland also have political positions or public opinion
overwhelmingly against Turkey’s inclusion in the EU. As for Italy,
Bonino said that "lately, for the first time, opposing positions have
been taken very very firmly by the Northern League". For this reason
the former EU commissioner has called on Berlusconi to "mediate"
inside the Government so as to define a clear position ahead on
the EU summit on December 9-10, during which the next steps for the
adhesion talks will be defined. Emma Bonino said that the question
"of identity is an alibi for not saying anything, for not saying that
they are Muslims, there are 80 million of them. I always feel like
saying, what is the European identity? For me, Europe is a State of
rights, division of power, democracy, open society; I do not believe
that Europe is a religious project or a geographic project". In this
negative context, there are only a few signs of a change in tendency,
for example the resumption of Turkish-Armenian dialogue. But the
‘wise men’ insist that "an effort is needed, we need good news from
Turkey, on its reform plans, and a greater sense of responsibility on
the part of the authorities and the European media". "Not just the
credibility of Europe towards Turkey, but the international role of
the EU are at stake", concluded Ahtisaari. (ANSAmed).