FM: Turkey’s commitments to EU not negotiable

Turkey does not understand what it means to be a candidate country for EU membership, Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis has said, clarifying at the same time, that Ankara’s commitments to EU member states, including the Republic of Cyprus, are not negotiable.

In statements following a meeting with the new Ambassador of Egypt to Cyprus Menha Mahrous Bakhoum, here Monday, Marcoullis said it was a substantive meeting in view of her visit to Egypt in early November.

The Minister said that it would be a very important visit and expressed Cyprus’ readiness to help in Egypt’s transformation process.

”We want to be in contact with this country as much as possible in order to see how to help, not only maintain our traditionally excellent relations, but find ways to help in the development and reshaping of the institutions and democracy in this very important neighboring country,” she added.

Asked about the agreements signed between Cyprus and Egypt, Marcoullis said that ”Egypt honors and will respect all agreements it has signed with Cyprus.”

The Minister referred to public statements made by the Foreign Minister of Egypt immediately after his meeting with Foreign Minister of Greece, adding that this position will be confirmed during his own visit to Egypt.

She noted that Cyprus and Egypt signed an agreement in 2003 on the delimitation of their Exclusive Economic Zones and a ”very important agreement,” on joint exploitation of hydrocarbon deposits, which is pending ratification in both countries.

”What I asked of Ambassador of Egypt is for both countries, particularly Egypt, to move towards the ratification of this very important agreement, so that we can run as soon as possible several joint projects to jointly exploit hydrocarbons deposits” she added.

Asked about Cyprus – Lebanon agreement on the delimitation of the EEZ which has not yet been ratified by the parliament of Lebanon, Marcoullis said that a delegation of technocrats from Lebanon is expected to arrive in Cyprus either this week or next to discuss issues concerning the exclusive economic zone.

She said that the purpose of the visit is to discuss on a technocratic level some concerns raised by Lebanon not on the agreement, clarifying that there was never any problem with this agreement but problems emerged on the Lebanon – Israel exclusive economic zone.

She said she would visit Lebanon following the Lebanese delegation visit to Cyprus perhaps in November.

Asked if she discussed the Turkish threats with the new Ambassador of Egypt, Marcoullis said that Egypt’s position is clear, adding that Egypt ”recognizes the sovereign rights of the Republic as all other countries in the international community.”

”There is not one country in the world which does not recognize this exclusive right of the Republic of Cyprus, because as you know, most countries are signatories to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea”, she pointed out.

She recalled that Turkey unfortunately not only has it not signed this Convention, but it is also an enemy of the Convention having its own interpretations regarding the Law of the Sea,” noting that ”these are the interpretations Turkey is trying to implement by conducting seismic exploration and other activities in Cyprus’s EEZ ”.

Replying to questions, she said Cyprus has made representations about Turkey’s explorations within Cyprus’ EEZ by Turkish seismographic vessel Piri Reis and the Norwegian research vessel ‘Bergen Surveyor”, adding that Cyprus has made representations both to the Norwegian and the French governments since a French company is also involved in cooperating with the Norwegian company.

She said that these representations are primarily addressed to the UN and the Security Council, “which we constantly keep updated with all developments,” he said.

Asked to comment on Turkish newspaper Sabah reports according to which Turkey has proposed to Cyprus opening the port of Mersin to Cyprus-flagged ships in exchange of opening a chapter in its accession process which remains closed due to the Cyprus problem, Marcoullis said that this is a very old proposal.

“Things are clear. In 2004 the EU demanded that Turkey signs and implements the Ankara Protocol, which requires the opening of all Turkish ports and airports to Cyprus. There is no question of negotiating,” she said.

Of course, she continued, ”Turkey is known for haggling, but it must understand that the EU is not an issue for negotiation. It is a matter of specific rules and procedures which each candidate country must follow. ”

Asked to comment on statements by Turkish Minister Responsible for Europe who described the Greek Cypriot side as the Trojan Horse of Israel on the issue of natural gas, the Minister said that such statements prove that Turkey has not realized what it means to be a candidate country for EU membership.

She said that ”the candidate country must adapt to the EU and not the other way around. It seems, ”she added,” they have not understood this very basic element which governs the relations of all candidates with no exception, irrespective of the difficulties they face.”

“The road to EU membership is not an easy one, it is difficult and requires difficult and serious decisions,” she said.

Turkey, she said, has to decide if it wants to proceed at all costs, adding that it will also have to pay a political cost since it should certainly recognize the Republic of Cyprus, meet its commitments to the EU and implement the Ankara Protocol.

In conclusion she said that this road is not determined by Turkey but by the EU and if Turkey wants to move on then it should follow this precise path.

Turkish troops occupy Cyprus’ northern part since they invaded in 1974. Ankara does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus.

Drilling in Cyprus’ EEZ has begun and is being carried out by Houston-based “Noble Energy”, off Cyprus’ south-eastern coast.

Following Nicosia’s decision to begin drilling in its EEZ, Ankara has deployed warships in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The government of Cyprus has protested to the UN and the EU Turkey’s moves, saying it has a sovereign right to exploit its natural resources, pointing out that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will benefit from any benefits that may come from oil drilling.

Cyprus has signed an agreement to delineate the Exclusive Economic Zone with Egypt and Israel with a view to exploit any possible natural gas and oil reserves in its EEZ. A similar agreement has been signed with Lebanon but the Lebanese Parliament has not yet ratified it.
— Copyright © Famagusta Gazette 2011