Erdogan slammed the EU for failing to ease the economic isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
2006-11-09 13:16:13 Today Online, November 9, 2006
Turkey rejected an EU warning that its failure to grant trade privileges to Cyprus might derail its accession to the bloc, but pledged commitment to reforms and said the responsibility of keeping membership talks on track “falls more on the EU.”
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed that Turkish sea and air ports would remain off limits to Greek Cypriot vessels if the European Union fails to deliver on promises to ease trade and travel restrictions on the breakaway Turkish Cypriots.
He acknowledged there could be a “period of stagnation” in ties with the EU, but ruled out the possibility of accession talks collapsing a little more than a year after they began in October 2005.
The European Commission had issued earlier on Wednesday a critical report on Turkey’s progress towards membership, urging Ankara to improve human rights and fulfil obligations on Cyprus or face the consequences at a summit of EU leaders on December 14-15. “The Cyprus problem is a political problem and it does not constitute an obligation with respect to our negotiating process, which is of a technical nature,” a Turkish government statement said.
“An EU summit decision that will guarantee the sustainability of the process will depend on the political vision of EU leaders regarding the EU’s future,” it said. “The responsibility at this point falls more on the EU than on Turkey.” Erdogan slammed the EU for failing to ease the economic isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), recognized only by Ankara, under promises made in April 2004 when the Turkish Cypriots voted in favor of a UN plan to end Cyprus’ 32-year division.
The plan was massively rejected by the Greek Cypriots, who joined the EU in May that year, with the Turkish Cypriots left out in the cold. “If the restrictions on the TRNC are not lifted we will not give up the determination we have displayed so far on the issue of ports,” Erdogan told reporters. “Our decision on that is definite.”
Ankara is under pressure to open its ports to the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government of EU-member Cyprus under a customs union pact with the bloc. Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul pledged support for efforts by Finland, the current holder of the EU presidency, to resolve the stalemate before the critical EU summit next month.
“Turkey will maintain its constructive attitude,” he said. “We hope there will be positive developments (but) everybody concerned should display a reconciliatory and sincere will for a solution.” Ankara accuses the Greek Cypriots of using their EU membership as leverage to extract concession from Turkey on the Cyprus conflict.
With elections looming next year, the government is also under pressure due to dwindling public support for EU membership amid what Turks widely see as endless EU lecturing and demands in a process that does not even guarantee ultimate accession.
Finland’s efforts suffered a blow last week when planned talks were scrapped as the parties failed to agree on their format.
Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said Wednesday the Finnish proposals had no chance of success because they were “unbalanced,” the Anatolia news agency reported. “When the EU decided to lift our isolation, they did so to reward our ‘yes’ vote to the UN plan,” Talat said. “We are not obliged to give anything in return for that now.”
The Commission report also highlighted human rights problems in Turkey, including ones relating to freedom of speech, the use of torture and women’s and minority issues. Ankara said it did not agree with some of the criticisms in the report, but stressed its commitment to reform to catch up with EU standards.
“Reform is a continuous process,” the government statement said. “Naturally, we will continue to do what is necessary… The government is fully determined to do that.”
Shortly before the Commission issued the report in Brussels, Erdogan said Turkey was determined to pursue its membership goal despite the difficulties.
“Suspension, rupture… these are impossible,” he said. “Our efforts will continue. Even a country like Great Britain waited 11 years to become a full member.” – AFP