EP CALLS ON TURKEY TO WITHDRAW TROOPS FROM CYPRUS
Cyprus Mail
Feb 11 2010
Cyprus
IN A strongly worded resolution, the European Parliament yesterday
set a number of preconditions on Turkey’s EU accession, calling on
Ankara to immediately withdraw its occupation forces from Cyprus and
facilitate the ongoing peace talks for a political settlement.
The EP adopted a resolution on Turkey’s Progress Report, based on
a report drafted by Dutch MEP Ria Oomen-Ruijten, which states that
the Turkish government should contribute "in concrete terms" to the
comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue, based on a bizonal,
bicommunal federation, in line with the relevant UN Security Council
resolutions and the principles on which the EU is founded.
Cypriot MEP Ioannis Kasoulides described the resolution as the
strongest yet to come out of the Brussels parliament. It urges Turkey
to facilitate a suitable climate for the Cyprus negotiations by
immediately starting to withdraw its forces from Cyprus, by addressing
the issue of the settlement of Turkish citizens on the island and
by enabling the return of the sealed-off section of Famagusta to its
lawful inhabitants in compliance with UN Security Council resolutions.
The EP "deplores" the non-implementation of the Additional Protocol
to the EC-Turkey Association Agreement for the "fourth consecutive
year" and warns that failure to implement it fully and without delay,
in a non-discriminatory way, could seriously affect its accession
negotiations. The MEPs also referred to the "limited" progress on
concrete reforms in 2009.
During the debate before voting, Spanish Minister for European
Affairs Lopez Garrido stressed that implementation of the Ankara
Protocol, which requires Turkey to open its ports and airports to
Cypriot ships and vessels, was a necessity for the continuation of
accession negotiations.
"If there is no progress on this, no more chapters can be opened,"
Garrido underlined. He also said that one of the decisive factors
for Turkey’s assessment included its contribution to the efforts to
reach a solution in Cyprus.
New EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule said that Turkey must do
more for its EU accession. "Five years ago Turkey undertook serious
commitments for democratisation. Today, we are concerned about the
limitations towards the media and the ban of political parties,"
the Czech Commissioner said.
He called on Turkey to make more effort towards democratisation,
respect of human rights and individual rights and implement all it
has promised especially as regards border control and readmission
of immigrants.
MEPs regretted the Constitutional Court’s decisions to close the
Democratic Society Party (DTP), and annul the legislation limiting
the jurisdiction of military courts, noting they were "a serious
setback in Turkey’s reform efforts" and called for reform of the
Turkish constitution.
On a more positive note, MEPs cited the broad public debate on
issues within the so-called democratic opening, and a law removing
restrictions on broadcasting in Kurdish.
They also appreciated the diplomatic efforts made to normalise
relations with Armenia but asked that the relevant protocols be
ratified. In addition, they acknowledged Turkey’s role in regional
security (Black Sea and Middle-East) and welcomed the signing of the
Nabucco pipeline agreement.
In the resolution, MEPs call for the opening of the energy chapter
in the accession negotiations. Twelve out of 35 chapters have so
far been opened with the environment chapter opened in December
2009. Eight chapters were frozen in 2006 over Turkey’s refusal to
apply the Ankara Protocol, while Cyprus has indicated it was prepared
to block the opening of five new chapters. (CNA)