Cyprus remains main factor in Turkey's EU membership
European Union ambassadors have failed to find a breakthrough on a joint negotiating position for Turkey’s membership talks and could not agree on a common response to Ankara’s refusal to recognise EU member Cyprus.
A British diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said yesterday that there was “not yet consensus” on the issue, but added that “the differences were being narrowed”.
Cyprus continued to demand a strong EU rebuttal to Turkey.
Britain and France narrowed their differences and presented a joint draft declaration, which said that the member states “regret that Turkey felt it necessary to make a declaration” in July noting its refusal to recognise the government in Nicosia.
It warned that if Turkey did not allow Cypriot ships or planes “full” access, negotiations could be halted on all transport-related issues.
The draft added that “prior recognition of all member states is a necessary component of accession. Accordingly, the EU underlines the importance it attaches to the normalisation of relations between Turkey and all EU member states, as soon as possible.”
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded the island following a short-lived coup backed by the supporters of union with Greece.
Ankara supports the Turkish-Cypriot breakaway state in the north of the island, and not the internationally recognised Greek-Cypriot government in the south.
The EU argues that any country wishing to join the bloc must recognise all 25 EU members.
Cyprus is demanding that Turkey recognise its government and wants a specific deadline for recognition during the entry talks. Britain, which holds the EU presidency, was trying to get a deal on the joint position before the planned opening of membership negotiations with Turkey on October 3.
Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali Talat said he sent a letter to British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw before yesterday’s meeting, saying that instead of pushing Turkey to recognise Cyprus, the EU should be pressuring the Cypriots to find a solution.
“Putting pressure on Turkey like this means emboldening the Greek Cypriots, who have proven they don’t want a solution, to continue their non-solution-seeking policies,” Talat said.
“We’ve suggested that for a solution to the Cyprus problem, … there be encouragement of a solution from the Greek Cypriot side, especially since it’s an EU member and is sitting there at the table.”
Diplomats said the 25 ambassadors would probably meet again later this week, and that the issue could lead to emergency talks by EU foreign ministers.
France, Austria and Cyprus have expressed reservations over talks with Turkey. France and Cyprus have demanded Turkey recognise the Mediterranean island.
Austria is pushing for the EU’s proposed negotiating mandate to contain a clarification that the outcome of talks should include a lesser option of a “partnership” between Ankara and the EU.
Turkey’s entry negotiations, set to be launched in Luxembourg by foreign ministers, are likely to last at least a decade. Diplomats have said the talks could be frozen if Turkey does not move toward recognising Cyprus or fails to live up to human rights and political reform commitments.
Cyprus threatened on Tuesday to block Turkey’s accession talks.
Cypriot government spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said Nicosia was seeking a satisfactory “counter declaration” by the 25-nation bloc over Turkey’s position that it does not recognise Cyprus.
Failure to produce that “naturally means that accession negotiations will not start as planned”, Chrysostomides said.
Meeting the last precondition to opening entry talks, Turkey signed a deal in July extending a customs union with the EU to include Cyprus and nine other countries that joined the bloc in 2004.
Ankara said by signing, it had met all demands for membership talks. However, it upset many EU governments by issuing a separate declaration stating its signature did not mean it recognises the Cypriot government.
Cyprus is demanding proof and monitoring by the EU that Turkey is fully implementing the deal, ensuring Cypriot ships and planes have full access to Turkish harbours and airports.
The draft EU declaration says EU governments “expect full, non-discriminatory implementation” of the customs union “to all EU member states.” It added that the 25-nation bloc would “evaluate full implementation in 2006”.
