EU ENCOURAGES FURTHER PROGRESS IN TURKISH-ARMENIAN RELATIONS

News.az
March 16 2010
Azerbaijan

EU fully support the hard work of Turkey and Armenia turning a historic
page and normalizing relations.

The European Union’s new enlargement commissioner, Stefan Fule,
confirms his support for Turkey’s accession to the EU but urges
the country ‘to fully implement additional protocols and normalize
relations with Cyprus.’ Meanwhile, Fule also says he encourages
further progress in Turkish-Armenian relations and continued pursuit of
‘zero problems with neighbors’

Turkey must normalize relations with Greek Cyprus, the European
Union’s new enlargement commissioner told reporters in Ankara on
Monday during his first official visit to EU-candidate Turkey.

"I had the opportunity to underline the importance the EU attaches to
the need for Turkey to fully implement the additional protocol and
normalize its relations with Cyprus," Fule told reporters during a
joint conference with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

"We agree that a comprehensive settlement on Cyprus would be a historic
breakthrough to the benefit of both Turkey and the EU," Fule said.

A European diplomat serving in Ankara confirmed the increasing
concerns, saying that the membership talks might enter a stalemate
unless the Cyprus issue is resolved.

Turkey and the EU share a strategic vision to lead global politics,
according to Davutoglu. "The EU is our common future. We will exert
efforts to make the EU an international player that is geopolitically
influential and economically dynamic."

"Turkish membership is a good opportunity," Davutoglu said, adding
that Turkey’s membership talks should not be overshadowed by "political
problems that have no direct link to the EU process, such as Cyprus."

"I’ve confirmed my commitment to the accession process and to
seeing Turkey become a member of the EU," Fule said, noting that the
credibility of the accession talks in respect of mutual commitments
was discussed.

Davutoglu, however, said visa liberalization must be granted to Turkey
once it fulfills the requirements.

Also during the press conference, Fule encouraged Turkey to continue
with its "zero problems with neighbors" policy and with the country’s
efforts to normalize relations with Armenia.

"I fully support the hard work of Turkey and Armenia turning a historic
page and normalizing relations," Fule told reporters.

Asked to comment on the Armenian "genocide" resolution recently
approved by the Swedish parliament, Fule replied, "The commission
does not comment on internal decisions of member states."

But he noted: "I know that sometimes politicizing history makes
reconciliations difficult. I’ve made a point of support for the
current stage of the relationship between Turkey and Armenia."

The European Commission is ready to assist both Turkey and Armenia to
carry out their responsibilities stemming from the protocols, he said.

The commissioner later met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
chief EU negotiator Egemen Bagısh and several deputies as part of
his trip to Ankara.

Fule is also set to have talks with civil-society organizations and
members of business circles in Istanbul on Tuesday.

An association agreement between Turkey and the EU was signed in 1963.

A number of decisions by the European Council, as well as resolutions
by the European Parliament, confirmed that Turkey would become a full
member once it meets all the requirements.