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Viewpoint

Who's blackmailing whom?

Turkey is without a shadow of a doubt THE world champion when it comes to twisting the meaning of words to promote its political objectives and then complaining of blackmail when the rest of the world insists on actions based on the true meaning of the words.

The latest such example was the absurd complaint by the Turkish Foreign Minister who described as blackmail the reasonable European Union demand that Turkey must recognise all members of the union, including Cyprus, if it wants it's own wish to join the union to be fulfilled.

The EU demand for the recognition of Cyprus, which Turkey rejects as blackmail, would come through the opening of Turkish ports and airports to Cypriot ships and planes. Such a step by Turkey would amount to an admission that the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in the Turkish occupied north of the island is indeed illegal, as stated repeatedly by the UN Security Council and the European Court of Human Rights, and that this is the reason why this vassal entity is not recognised by any other state but Turkey!

The only blackmail in force in connection with Cyprus is none other than the continuing illegal Turkish occupation of the north and its linkage to Turkey's insistence for the acceptance of the illegal breakaway state and the even more heinous crime of the ethnic cleansing of the Greek Cypriot population of the occupied north as a preconditions for a Cyprus settlement.

Who's the victim of isolation?

Just as it twists the meaning of blackmail to suit its purpose, Turkey does the same with another much abused word - isolation. It appeals to international humanitarian feelings by pleading for the ending of the alleged isolation of the Turkish Cypriots by making the patently hollow claim that the Turkish Cypriots are isolated, and suffer, even though they can come and go as they please through the ports and airports of both the government controlled south and the occupied north.

It persists with this hollow claim for the lifting of this alleged `isolation' whose real objective is none other than the political ploy to gain official recognition of the illegal ports and airports in the north, as a major step toward the international recognition of the illegal breakaway state.

The only real isolation in Cyprus is that affecting the tens of thousands of Greek Cypriot refugees. These people have been ethnically cleansed from the Turkish-occupied north and are prevented by Turkey from returning to their homes and properties despite the numerous judgements of the European Court of Human Rights ordering Turkey to allow them to do so and to restitute their usurped properties.

Sensational media coverage, when a gang of Greek Cypriot teenagers, who can only be described as racist hoodlums, invaded the school subsequently and proceeded to beat up some Turkish Cypriot pupils.

This development has been universally denounced by President Papadopoulos and all the other Greek Cypriot political leaders. They all demand the exemplary punishment of the hoodlums involved.

What is more important, however, is for the political leaderships on both sides of the divided island, and society as a whole, to ensure that such incidents never happen again by promoting understanding, the improvement of good relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, and by rooting out any racist attitudes among our youth.
 

Turkish offer ‘a mockery’


Nicosia scorns proposal to open port and airport

Turkish offer ‘a mockery’

NICOSIA yesterday rejected a Turkish proposal to temporarily open a port and one airport to Cypriot traffic as a mockery of the European Union that only stressed the need for action against non-compliant Ankara.

And the European Union, through the Finnish presidency, said last night that the offer ‘was not enough.’

"This is not a solution," Finland’s Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said in Helsinki.

Cyprus Foreign Minister George Lillikas said: "It is a premeditated attempt to impress and it’s a mockery of the European Union. It is devoid of any serious content," Foreign Minister George Lillikas said.

The proposal reinforces Nicosia’s position that only with strong pressure and a mechanism of checks would Turkey comply with its obligations, he added.

Ankara took EU capitals by surprise yesterday when it suddenly submitted a proposal aimed at averting a partial freezing of its accession negotiations.

There were conflicting reports throughout the day as to what the proposal entailed, as different versions were surfacing in the media.

The lack of clarity prompted the Finnish EU presidency to shift a meeting of Coreper (Committee of Permanent Representatives) on the issue to today, Friday.

"This can either be the golden goal or a trick cigar," one EU diplomat told the EU-affairs web site EU Observer.

Nicosia received formal word of what the Turks were proposing and quickly branded it as a new ruse for Turkey to wriggle out of its obligation under the Customs Union agreement to unconditionally open all its ports and airports to Cypriot traffic.



Strings

Lillikas accused Turkey of offering and wanting the sky.

"For the opening of one Turkish port, it is asking for the opening of the occupied port of Famagusta, while for the opening of one airport it is asking to legalise the illegal airport of Tymbou," he said.

Moreover, with its attitude, Ankara was also showing "contempt" toward recognising the Cyprus Republic.

In its proposal, Ankara said it would "proceed with the opening of a major sea port to Greek Cypriot vessels for transportation of Greek Cypriot goods within the context of the Customs Union."

It says that it "would also be prepared to open an airport to Greek Cypriot commercial flights to/from southern Cyprus."

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said Turkey "has to adhere completely" to EU demands that it open "allports to all EU members."

There are many strings attached, with the offer seemingly having a one-year expiry date.

The Turkish proposal revives calls for direct trade with the north, suggesting the opening of Famagusta port and Tymbou (Ercan) airport.

"All of the foregoing would be implemented provisionally for a period of one year and will not prejudge the outcome of the negotiations for a comprehensive settlement under the U N, to be reached by the end of 2007," said Turkey’s offer.

The Cyprus government is ready to give its consent to the opening of Famagusta port under EU management if combined with the return of the fenced city (Varosha) to its legal inhabitants.

But Nicosia adamantly rejects any suggestion of agreeing to direct international flights to the north. Tymbou airport is a red line it will not cross.

Nicosia has also made clear it will not accept Ankara’s attempt to link the Cyprus issue with Turkey’s obligations to enforce the customs union.

Unanimous

Lillikas said he expected the EU presidency and the European Commission to reiterate that Turkey’s trade obligations cannot be linked to other issues.

"We expect the representatives of the European Commission will defend the unanimous and binding decisions of the Union," he said.

He said that by its reference to ‘Greek-Cypriot ships and products’ and the ‘south’, Ankara was clearly violating its obligation to recognise the Republic of Cyprus.

The government would like to welcome Turkey’s claim that it is ready to work for a Cyprus settlement, but Ankara’s intransigence so far does not allow Nicosia to credit it with honesty.

Turkey’s call for a Cyprus settlement before the end of 2007, presupposes it is ready to show a compromising spirit, he said.

This disproves Prime Minister Erdogan’s basic argument that Turkey is unable to meet its obligations towards the Cyprus republic was due to the 2007 Turkish elections.

"The Cyprus government stands by its position that Turkey must be evaluated and judged based on what it has done and not what it promises to do," the foreign minister said.

New promise



"At this moment, Turkey is called to account over why it did not fulfil its pledge and a new promise on its behalf cannot be considered a satisfactory answer."

Britain, Turkey’s strongest backer in the EU, applauded Ankara’s initiative as "really significant".

"It is essential that the EU responds," a British official said.

Earlier this week, Nicosia welcomed a Franco-German proposal to set a loose time frame to reassess by 2009 Turkey’s progress in implementing the trade accord.

ANNAN: Plan could have been passed


Annan: Plan ‘could have been passed’

BY ANDREAS HADJIPAPAS

IF THE referendum held in April 2004 on the UN Plan for a Cyprus settlement had been postponed "a little bit", then perhaps the problem would have been resolved.

This is what outgoing UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan feels now, as he ponders what went wrong and the UN failed to get the desired result.

Speaking in New York during a session of the International Women’s Forum, Annan was asked what things he thought he should have done differently, during his ten years as UN chief.

He said one issue that "we devoted quite a lot of time to, but in the end did not succeed, was Cyprus.

"I am saying this because this has become very topical and it is also complicating life for the European Union."

Package

He recalled that the UN package that came to be known as the Annan Plan was put to a referendum in April 2004 at which the Turkish Cypriots voted Yes and the Greek Cypriots voted No, so the initiative failed.

Annan said there was a question of whether the European Union should accept a divided Cyprus into the EU or wait for unification.

"We had tried very hard to succeed with the unification so that a united Cyprus would go in. That didn’t happen and, of course, now we have a divided Cyprus admitted to the European Union, which is also complicating the negotiations with Turkey.

"All of us who were involved in that, each time you go to the region, that comes up. But perhaps if we had postponed the referendum a little bit and worked a bit harder we may have been able to resolve that. I am not entirely sure," Annan said.

At the time of the referendum, some parties in Cyprus suggested a postponement, so that the people could be better informed about various aspects of the complex UN blueprint, and also to ensure Security Council guarantees that its provisions would be effectively implemented.

Importance

Meanwhile, in his latest report to the Security Council, Annan stressed the importance of implementing the July 8 agreement without further delay.

He urged President Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, who reached the agreement with the help of Under-Secretary-General Ibrahim Gambari, to demonstrate with action that they really desire an end to the present status quo on the island.

"I have made it clear to both of them that what is important is not a declaration of intent but action from both sides to narrow the gap between words and action and indicate to me and my successor that they are ready to resume and move ahead in earnest with talks aimed at settling the Cyprus issue".

He stressed that this would require "compromise and political will."

Annan repeated his stand that only if progress was achieved, would he or his successor proceed to appoint a special adviser on Cyprus, to help negotiations.

Under the July 8 agreement, a two-track process would begin, involving discussion by technical committees of issues affecting the day-to-day life of the people and, concurrently, consideration by working groups of substantive issues.



No progress

There was no progress in efforts to set up such committees or groups, and each side b lamed the other for the lack of progress.

Gambari sent a letter last month with new suggestions for ending the deadlock, and both leaders replied, formally accepting the suggestions..

Annan said: "The stage is therefore now set for positive forward movement, and I urge both sides to show the necessary goodwill and determination to overcome their apparent deep mutual distrust and suspicion of each other’s true motives"

He also called for an end to the "blame game that has been carried out relentlessly and unhelpfully by officials and the press on both sides, contravening the letter and the spirit of the 8 July agreement".

The chief advisers of the two leaders, Tassos Tzionis and Rashit Pertev met this week in the presence of UN Representative Michel Moller, to continue discussion on the establishment and operation of the committees. The idea is to prepare the ground for the launching of fully-fledged talks in the New Year.

Boosting business with China


Cyprus eager to assist Chinese businesses gain access to EU
From Alex Efthyvoulos, in Beijing
BEIJING
President Tassos Papadopoulos made perfectly clear in his speeches here that the objective of his visit was “not only to reaffirm the excellent political and diplomatic relations” between the two countries, “but also to take advantage and to build upon this in order to strengthen our economic relationship.''
He also made it clear that the way to achieve this was by making it easier for Chinese companies to set up in Cyprus to take advantage of Cyprus' membership of the European Union.
“Cyprus has its doors open to Chinese businesses eager to invest and promote business, and as a full member state of the European Union it offers very attractive benefits and opportunities for Chinese companies to establish their businesses and production units on the island,'' he said in his two speeches in Shanghai on Wednesday and in Beijing yesterday during the two special seminars in the two cities on `Cyprus as an International Business Centre’ that were attended by scores of Chinese businessmen and the 100-strong delegation of Cypriot businessmen accompanying him.
He admitted that, at present, trade between the two countries is ``relatively small,'' at only $255m in total last year. This total represented $240m in Chinese imports into Cyprus and only $15m of Cypriot exports to China. He nevertheless believed these figures could be improved and went on to say this could be done by “the establishment of joint ventures between Cypriot and Chinese companies, like construction projects, an area where Cypriot companies excel and are active worldwide. Re-exporting to neighbouring countries with which Cyprus maintains historically excellent relations, is also another field. Indeed, thanks to the strategic geographical location of Cyprus, Chinese companies can easily reach a market of 350 million citizens in neighbouring countries.

Preferred destination

“The Larnaca Free Industrial Zone, next to the Larnaca Airport, could also be used by Chinese companies as a base for regional activities.''
These are only a few examples but there are many others, he said. He cited as an example the fact that Egypt is a preferred destination of Chinese tourists. “I can imagine combined tourist packages to include both Egypt and Cyprus,'' he added.
He also pointed out other attractions:
- That Cyprus is already an established international business centre, “a place in which to invest, a country to trade with and a place where Chinese companies can use as their base in the Eastern Mediterranean.''
- A favourable environment for small and medium sized companies, a liberal framework that allows up to 100% foreign participation in most sectors of the economy and a low corporate tax of 10%, adding that this is the lowest in the whole European Union.
- The services provided by the highly-experienced professional and business services sector from accounting, to banking to business consulting, legal services and IT.
- He made a special reference to shipping pointing out that Cyprus tanks among the leading maritime nations in the world, as one of the world's largest shipping management centres and as one of the main transit trade centres in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The President concluded saying that he wanted “to express once again the readiness of my government to give full support and encouragement to any serious cooperation between Cypriot and Chinese companies. Our policy is to create a stimulating environment and the necessary conditions for such cooperation to develop into successful business ventures. Let me assure you that companies from China will be more than welcome to explore Cyprus and discover the advantages that it can offer.''

 Common rejection of breakaway states



Alex Efthyvoulos
reports from Beijing

GIANT China and tiny Cyprus are strongly linked by a unique common objective, their respective rejection of the recognition of the two breakaway states affecting them; Taiwan and the Turkish occupied north of Cyprus.
This creates a strong bond between them, it was stressed here by both President Tassos Papadopoulos and Uyun Qimg, the Vice Chairwoman of China's National People's Congress.
“The traditional and genuine friendship between the two countries is strengthened by the unremitting struggle of our two countries for national reunification,'' President Papadopoulos said during a reception at a hotel here to mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Avoiding reference to their difference in size, Uyun Qimg said in reply that “despite their geographical distance, history and cultural differences, the Chinese and Cypriot people share a strong bond. The Chinese side highly appreciates the firm adherence of the Cyprus government to the `One China' policy and to its rejection of the independence of Taiwan.
“The Chinese people also understand and steadily support the efforts of the people of Cyprus to maintain the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their country,” she said.

Private meeting

The speeches during the reception attended by hundreds of invited VIPs, acted as a clear augury of the aim and outcome of yesterday's private meeting between President Papadopoulos and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao
In her address during the reception, Uyun Qimg referred to Cyprus' vote in the United Nations against the recognition of Taiwan.
“The Chinese people will never forget that, in 1971, Cyprus voted in China's favour of the restoration of its lawful rights in the United Nations.
“This is something we will always cherish.''

Test of time


She added that the 35-year-old “Sino-Cypriot relationship has endured the test of time and changing international situations and is moving forward steadily and healthily.''
Referring specifically to President Papadopoulos, she added that “we really appreciate the friendly policy of Cyprus towards China pursued by the Cyprus government after the election of Your Excellency as president, which has increased the mutual political trust, enriched the bilateral cooperation in commerce and trade and promoted the cultural cooperation between the two countries.”
In further praise of Cyprus, she said the two countries “maintain friendly consultations and coordination in the United Nations as well as other international organisations. After joining the European Union, Cyprus has actively promoted the development of Sino-European relations.''
“We have one more good friend and good fellow in the European Union,” she added to warm applause.
“I feel that the Sino-Cypriot friendship is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. If we can say that 35 years ago we planted the tree of friendship together, now, after 35 years, that tree has grown into a big, strong tree bearing abundant fruit.”
Uyuan Qimg said the two countries were currently going through “an important development period.'' The visit of President Papadopoulos “is of great importance as it provides an opportunity for the planning of further development and mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields.''
“I strongly believe that the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cyprus will be a new starting point, promoting Sino-Cypriot friendship and cooperation to a higher level,” she said, in what was seen as an indirect wish for the success of the contacts that the strong delegation of Cypriot businessmen accompanying President Papadopoulos is having with their Chinese counterparts.

Heartfelt gratitude

In his address, President Papadopoulos said that “the mutual understanding between Cyprus and China is strengthened by the unremitting struggle of the people of our two countries for national reunification.”
''I take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to the government of the People's Republic of China for its staunch support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of the Republic of Cyprus, as well as in connection with its efforts for a just and viable solution of the Cyprus question on the basis of the United Nations Security Council resolutions, European principles and international law.”
President Papadopoulos warned of machinations by countries he did not name “who in consort with Turkey are promoting the idea that the part of Cyprus occupied by Turkey since 1974 should be turned into a `Taiwan-type' entity in the western world. We are determined to resist all such efforts and we hope that China will again act as an ally in our resistance to such a development.''
He added that the position of Cyprus was based on principle and that the expectation for continuing Chinese support “is the consequence of the indisputable fact that our countries share the same principles and ideals enshrined in the Charter of the United Nation, respect for the sovereignty of states as well as the non-interference by any state in the affairs of another. On this basis the future of Sino-Cypriot relations and friendship, based on jointly held principles, is destined to be a good one.''

box
Booming China economy
growing 10% annually

Exports rose 200%
CHINA'S booming economy is likely to maintain a 10% annual growth over the next few years, a report by the Goldman Sachs bank said this week.
The growth is driven by continued solid domestic demand and significant productivity gains.
The view by the independent evaluator echoes that of earlier state agency reports that reflect the China's shift to a demand driven growth.
The report said that the yuan, the Chinese currency unit, is expected to rise 5.7% against the US dollar next year and another 5.3% in 2008.
The economic boom pushed the yuan this week to its highest closing rate against the dollar since China ended a fixed exchange rate to the US dollar last year.
The yuan rose 5.7% from 8.3 per dollar, where it was pegged for a decade until July last year. It's current rate is around 7.8 to the dollar.
Yu Yonding, a former member of the Chinese Central Bank's monetary policy committee, said exports made up 35% of gross domestic product last year.
“Net exports increased by 220% last year and my estimate is they will increase by another 40-50% this year,” he said.


Boom reflected on skyline

THE most impressive sign of the boom in the Chinese economy is the remarkable change in the skyline of its main cities, particularly Shanghai, during the last 15 years or so.
The skyline is now dominated by scores of newly-built towering blocs of 50 or more stories, each in its own distinct ultra modern architectural style.
The skyline is also pierced by the outstretched arms of cranes on the top of even more high rise blocs under construction.
The change on ground level is also remarkable with numerous new elevated highways and underpasses that facilitate the smooth flow of constantly growing heavy traffic, amazingly without any traffic jams, locals say.
The intricate web of wide and narrow city streets is kept spotlessly clean by swarms of street sweepers and sweeper trucks that can be observed working hard in the quiet pre-dawn hours.

Eight chapters penalise Turkey over Cyprus
By Jean Christou
(archive article - Tuesday, December 12, 2006)

E.U. FOREIGN ministers agreed in principle yesterday on freezing eight of Turkey’s negotiating chapters and to monitor Ankara annually until 2009.

The decision on a partial freeze was reached after a day of haggling between EU foreign ministers in Brussels in their attempt to avoid derailing Ankara’s accession course.
Chapters to be frozen cover trade, financial services and transport.

"We have an agreement. A crisis summit has been averted," Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik told reporters.

However, Plassnik said differences still remained over a reference to the UN peace process on Cyprus and direct trade with the north of the island.

"It's important to send this double signal that on the one hand there should be no train crash... but that there should be a slowdown," Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos told reporters after the meeting.

The decision followed a day of wrangling and diplomatic manoeuvring between the foreign ministers over the extent of the partial freeze, and over Nicosia and Athens demand for a set reassessment for Turkey.

Turkey has failed to open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot traffic under the EU customs union protocol. An offer made at the end of last week to open one port and airport was conditional opening up the same for the north.

Ankara’s offer was rejected as not going far enough to fulfil its obligations and the EU decided to press ahead with a discussions to freeze eight of its 35 negotiating chapters that impinged on the protocol and its effects on the Cyprus dilemma.

By late afternoon yesterday, ministers said they were close to a deal on how many negotiating chapters to freeze but the issue of the new reassessment was proving to be a difficult hurdle.

Austria backed the Greek and Greek Cypriot calls for a fresh assessment in 2008 while Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot said he wanted 10 negotiating chapters suspended rather than the eight proposed, with a review date to check Turkey's compliance.

But diplomats told Reuters in Brussels the proposal found little support among the majority of the 25 member states.

Early in the day Britain, Italy, Sweden and other countries which back Turkey said the proposals were too harsh.

British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said: “It is enormously in the strategic interests of the EU and well as in the interests of Turkey for negotiations on reform in Turkey and for negotiations towards Turkey's membership to continue.”

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned that it would not be good to destroy in a few days what had taken many years to develop.

"This is not, as people in some member states demand, a discussion about breaking off the accession process,” he said.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn also said early on that he was not in favour of a time frame for Turkey to open its ports and airports to Cyprus. Rehn also raised the issue of Turkey’s long-standing demand for direct trade between the EU and the north of the island.

The Foreign Ministers of Belgium, Italy, Sweden and Latvia also dismissed the time frame for Ankara and suggested no more than three chapters be frozen.

According to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) Foreign Minister George Lillikas when he addressed the Council meeting said the issue of a timeframe for Turkey was very important.
Diplomats were also telling reporters in Brussels that Lillikas had asked for more than eight chapters to be frozen.

Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyianni backed Cyprus and stressed the need for the EU25 to agree on a clear message to Ankara.

Bakoyianni said that while no one wanted to see the door closed to Turkey, Ankara was obliged to fulfil its obligations to member state Cyprus. In this context, she said a time frame for reassessment was only logical.

”Today in this room, we do not judge a member state, but a candidate state and the discussion should adapt to this reality,” Bakoyianni reportedly told the Council.
 

Turkish ministry appeals for unity on EU amid row
(archive article - Tuesday, December 12, 2006)

TURKEY'S Foreign Ministry has made a rare appeal for unity among state institutions, including the powerful military, amid growing tensions over a government proposal to rescue Ankara's troubled European Union entry bid.

Turkey's centre-right government last week made an oral offer to open a major port to traffic from EU member Cyprus, a country it does not recognise, in a last-minute bid to avert the expected partial suspension of its EU entry talks this week.

But the army General Staff and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, both often at odds with the Islamist-rooted government of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, have complained that they have not been informed of this unexpected break with state policy.

"Efforts to cause a crisis of confidence between state institutions at this time... do not serve the high interests of our country," the ministry said in a statement late on Sunday.
Turkey has so far refused to open its ports and airports to Cyprus, despite a legal obligation to the EU to do so, saying Brussels must first lift trade restrictions against the Turkish Cypriots.

"It is very painful that our efforts to avoid the derailment of our 50-year relationship with the EU and to secure the future of Turkish Cyprus have been overshadowed by these discussions about 'was information given or not'," the ministry said.

The ministry said all relevant state institutions had been kept fully informed of Turkey's latest diplomatic initiative.

Political analysts say the row has revealed both divisions in Turkey's establishment about how far Ankara should go in seeking a compromise on Cyprus and also growing tensions linked to presidential elections due in May.

The staunchly secular generals are worried that Erdogan will seek the presidency when Sezer retires and will start to undermine Turkey's strict division of state and religion.

They also see Erdogan as too willing to bend to EU demands on issues of vital national security, such as Cyprus.

EU Presidency expresses full support for Cyprus settlement


12/12/2006

The European Union Presidency after Monday's discussions at the General Affairs and External Relations Council has expressed full support for the ongoing efforts of the United Nations Secretary General to resume negotiations for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem in line with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and the principles on which the EU is founded.
In a statement, the Presidency welcomed the positive responses of the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot Communities to a letter of United Nations Under-Secretary General Gambari on the implementation of their July 8 agreement.
The Presidency emphasises the need to quickly start this preparatory work in order for the United Nations Secretary General's Good Offices mission to resume without unnecessary delay.
Furthermore it encouraged the two communities to ensure that the right atmosphere prevails for this process to flourish.
President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed on 8 July 2006 to begin a process of bicommunal discussions on issues that affect the day-to-day life of the people and concurrently those that concern substantive issues, both contributing to a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem.
Following the agreement, senior aides of the two leaders in Cyprus, Tasos Tzionis and Rasit Pertev, began meetings in the office of the UN Secretary General's Special Representative in Cyprus Michael Moller in the UN-controlled buffer zone to work out the modalities for the implementation of the July agreement.
 

 EU FMs agree partial freeze on Turkey's talks


12/12/2006

European Union Foreign Ministers agreed unanimously Monday to sanction Turkey for failing to respect its trade obligations to Cyprus by slowing down Ankara's membership talks.
Cyprus Foreign Minister George Lillikas has expressed his satisfaction with the decision, noting that Cyprus has achieved its goals.
The Finnish presidency announced that the ministers reached a ''deal on a common EU position concerning Turkey's EU accession negotiations'', which will see eight of 35 policy chapters in its membership talks frozen.
The Republic of Cyprus, an EU member state, has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied one third of its territory.
Turkey, a country aspiring to enter the EU, refuses to implement the Customs Union Protocol by opening its ports and airports to Cyprus.

Passing the buck
2006-12-12 13:20:41
George Iacovou. Commentary, The Guardian December 12, 2006 09:45 AM

George Iacovou is high commissioner for Cyprus in the United Kingdom. Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, the former Danish Foreign Minister, is simply wrong in suggesting that the EU's attitude towards Turkey has been unfair. And he is doubly wrong in attributing this to Cyprus.

Turkey's present difficulties with the EU arise directly and solely from the fact that in October 2005, they freely agreed to implement the Ankara Protocol, but to date have not carried it out. Under the Ankara Protocol, Turkey's Customs Union was to be extended to the 10 new members of the EU, including Cyprus. The EU must now consider the matter before proceeding any further with Turkey's accession negotiations.

Before the commencement of formal negotiations, Turkey also pledged to normalise relations with Cyprus and stop vetoing us from becoming a member of various international organisations that Turkey already belongs to.

Ellemann-Jensen seems to propose that the EU do nothing, which sends the wrong message to the Turks. It suggests that their accession process will continue uninterrupted, regardless of whether or not they abide by the pledges they make to the EU in the future.

Contrary to what is also suggested, Turkey's obligations to the EU have nothing to do with the Turkish Cypriots' "access to free trade and other benefits". Turkey, as a unilaterally assumed quid pro quo for her own completely separate legal obligations to the EU, has been demanding this since the 2004 referenda on the Anan plan. Nor were these obligations connected to, or dependent upon, the way Greek Cypriots voted on the Anan plan.

The accession of Cyprus to the EU was independent of the efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem. The EU made this abundantly clear in the years preceding accession, in order to avoid granting Turkey a veto over Cyprus' entry. In fact this was deemed by all to be a catalyst in the search for a solution.

This should not have surprised anyone, least of all Ellemann-Jensen. Up until then, Turkey's attitude towards all efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem had been totally negative. It is because of this that successive EU Councils, through their final conclusions, have been sending clear messages to Turkey that unless they cooperate constructively in the search for a settlement, the process of accession by the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus would proceed, independently of any progress made.

It is precisely for this reason that accession to the EU went ahead on 1st May 2004, regardless of the result of the referendums a week earlier.
 

EU partially freezes membership talks to penalize Turkey
2006-12-12 13:01:46
From Reuters

December 12, 2006

BRUSSELS — European Union foreign ministers agreed Monday on a partial freeze of Turkey's membership talks to penalize Ankara for failing to normalize trade with Cyprus.

But they also emphasized that there should be no breakdown in the talks.

The negotiations are divided into 35 policy areas, covering issues that include trade and financial services, and ministers decided unanimously to suspend talks on eight of them.

Cyprus has been split since Turkish troops invaded in 1974 after a Greek Cypriot coup. The EU admitted the divided island as a member in 2004, represented only by the Greek Cypriots.

Stefanos Tamvakis Elected New president of SAE
2006-12-10 11:54:31
Stefanos Tamvakis, from Alexandria, was elected as the new president of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE), during the sessions of its 6th World Convention, in Thessaloniki, Macedonia, on Saturday.

Tamvakis in the second round of the elections for a new SAE president, garnered 238 votes (55.74 per cent), against 189 votes (44.26 per cent) for Christos Tomaras, from Chicago. Olga Sarantopoulou, from Vienna, was elected Secretary and Costas Dimitriou, from Cologne, Treasurer.

Philip Christopher, from New York, was elected representative of the Cypriot overseas organisations POMAK and PSEKA.

(ANA-MPA photo of SAE president Stefanos Tamvakis on Saturday)

One Disaster And Lots Of Advice
Published: 12/8/2006

BY ORHAN BURSALI
CUMHURIYET- EU policy has come to a halt. Both conservative EU states and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) have halted relations. The EU is following a long-term strategy to block Turkey’s EU membership. The first county they used for this purpose was Greece, followed by the Greek Cypriots. The strategy was determined by letting the Greek Cypriots into the EU ranks despite their problems. The strategy was clear: Turkey would be forced to give into every request by Greece and the Greek Cypriots. This wasn’t enough, because other issues were waiting after Turkey gives up its rights in the Aegean Sea and leaves Cyprus: the Kurdish and Armenian questions, etc. This strategy bore fruit in the first obstacle: You’re not implementing the additional protocol? Then you’ll pay. So it’s clear what next week’s EU summit will bring. The US and some EU countries are trying to prevent this recommendation from going in effect, but nothing will change. When could they change? When the EU starts to believe that it can’t continue without Turkey. There’s no prospect of this on the horizon.

And why has the AKP cooled its relations? It thought it could get EU support for its cause of wearing headscarves in public places and fundamentalism under the guise of human rights. But it didn’t happen. What did the AKP not do? It didn’t immediately appoint a chief negotiator. State Minister Ali Babacan was appointed to his chief EU negotiator post six months late. And lastly, the EU only made a declaration that it would lift the embargo against the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, but never applied it.

One disaster has created a common ground for a discussion on what to do. Not for EU membership, but for developments without the EU.


 

Ankara Considers E.U.'s Decision Expected But Undesired
Published: 12/12/2006


ANKARA - Turkish government considers the EU's decision on Turkey's EU accession process "an expected but undesired result". Ankara is eager to continue negotiations under the frame which has been adopted so far.
Sources said that the decision was made by the EU foreign ministers yesterday in a way which would harm Turkey at the minimum level under current circumstances.

On the other hand, they also think that Turkey was treated unfairly.

Stating that Turkey would keep walking on its path, the sources underlined that but it would also continue to mention unfair attitude against Turkey.

Turkey is waiting for the steps that will be taken by the EU in regard to how negotiations will continue from now on.

Sources said that chapters on "enterprise and industry policy", "economy and monetary policies" and "financial control" could be opened at this stage, stating that there is no guaranty whether the chapter on "education and culture" would be opened or not.

According to the sources, EU will say that these chapters can be opened, after the additional protocol is implemented. On the other hand, Ankara considers that one chapter is likely to be opened by the end of 2006.

Ankara thinks that Direct Trade Regulation will be approved without further discussion as it was mentioned by the EU. If it happens, the issue of lifting isolations on Turkish Cypriots will be included in a formal document for the first time. Turkish government expects that Direct Trade Regulation which will be approved in January will have satisfactory expressions on lifting of isolations.

 

Turkish-EU Relations
Published: 12/8/2006

BY NURI ELIBOL
TURKIYE- The European Union can be considered the great project of Europe following World War II. European countries which twice suffered devastation in world wars 30 years apart established the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951, the nucleus of the EU. The EU gained its current situation in line with this community’s expansion in its various dimensions. As Turkey’s EU adventure dates back more than 40 years, we can say that we took part in every stage of EU history, albeit not as a full member. Turkey has continued to walk down its road leading to EU membership in spite of all its changing governments, and it will continue. I can’t imagine any government insensitive to the EU, which is the most concrete indication of the level of civilization. What about the current situation of our relations? While the EU was about to put hurdles in Turkey’s way, it included a new process and avoided being the one which creates hurdles at the last moment. As the decision isn’t final yet, we should approach the issue in a dignified way. However, the EU has already showed that it lacks the nerve to end the process. Turkey has a clear stance on the Cyprus issue, just like the clarity of which side is closer and more willing to find a solution. Obviously, Turkey will continue to maintain a stance favoring a solution, without harming its own interests.

The EU’s original mission was to bring peace and stability to the continent and play an important role in the world’s balance of power as a global actor. If the EU members want to protect this vision, they should get used to looking beyond daily interests and domestic political calculations in Turkey’s efforts for membership. Actually, today, even certain circles who want to suspend Turkey’s EU membership process have realized that a EU project without Turkey would be incomplete. Similarly, not a single element within the EU has excluded Turkey completely. Likewise, in his speech in June 2005, assuming the EU term presidency, British Prime Minister Tony Blair warned that Europe had started to be fall behind China and India in competitiveness. He added that only two of the world’s top 20 universities were in Europe and that if Europe doesn’t expand, it would shrink. You can be sure that a country like Turkey, which is secular, democratic, Muslim and important in the Middle East, will be understood better after it becomes a bridge of energy for Europe. On the day they realize that the power Turkey will give the EU is at least as important as the contributions the EU will make to Turkey, we will see that today’s problems will diminish in importance. Let’s understand that reaching certain standards to be able to join the EU is already a requirement for us. If we can also raise our national per capita income to $10-15,000 by sustaining the current political and economic stability, the picture will be completely different and we will see that certain disadvantages today are actually an advantage.

 

EU ministers agree to slow Turkey's membership talks
12-11-2006, 10h59
BRUSSELS (AFP)

European Union's foreign policy chief Javier Solana (R) and Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja (L) read documents before the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels. European Union foreign ministers agreed to sanction Turkey for failing to respect its trade obligations to Cyprus by slowing down Ankara's membership talks, the bloc's presidency said.
(AFP)

European Union foreign ministers agreed to sanction Turkey for failing to respect its trade obligations to Cyprus by slowing down Ankara's membership talks, the bloc's presidency said.

The Finnish presidency announced that the ministers had reached a "deal on a common EU position concerning Turkey's EU accession negotiations", which will see eight of 35 policy chapters in its membership talks frozen.

The Union made the move following Ankara's repeated refusal to open its harbours and airports to Greek Cypriot ships and planes as it must do under a customs agreement with the 25-country bloc.

"We have avoided a crisis over Turkey" at the summit of EU leaders starting on Thursday, beamed Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, as they clinched the deal in defiance of all expectations.

The talks had begun at around 9:30 am (0830 GMT) and ran through a morning session, lunch and into the early evening, when the deep divisions over Turkey's candidacy were finally overcome, for now.

"Our view was that this should be settled today" said Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern.

Key to the deal was a revision proposal from Finland under which the European Commission would constantly monitor Turkey's progress on normalising trade ties with Cyprus.

The talks were "very complicated", an EU official said.

The Greek Cypriot government holding the southern two-thirds of Cyprus is internationally recognised as having sovereignty over the whole of the island but does not control the northern third, where a Turkish Cypriot government is recognised only by Ankara.

Cyprus and its ally Greece, among those most angry at Turkey's refusal to open its harbours and airports to Greek Cypriot craft, had demanded that a date be set at which the sanctions could be toughened if Ankara makes no progress.

In an effort to avoid further angering Turkey, the ministers also discussed whether to include a note in written conclusions on their talks that the EU would work to bring an end to the isolation of northern Cyprus.

Turkey has refused to normalise its trade ties with Cyprus until the EU makes good on a promise from 2004 that it would help improve the livelihood of people in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The dispute is one of many to have plagued Turkey's EU membership talks since they began just over a year ago.

No member state denies the geopolitical importance of encouraging reform in a mainly Muslim but secular country led by a moderate Islamic government which straddles Europe, the Middle East and the volatile Caucasus region.

"The decision we will take, or not take today, is very important -- a strategic question -- so now is not the time to rush things," Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos had warned before the meeting.

Turkey's EU talks were always going to take at best a decade and membership is not assured, but the sudden shift to action has surprised Turkey.

"I cannot help wonder whether Europe is really aware of the consequences of not sustaining the accession process at a time when a modern and prosperous Turkey is becoming increasingly relevant to the well-being of the European Union and beyond," Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul told the International Herald Tribune Monday.

The biggest problem facing the ministers had been that questions of EU enlargement must, in almost all cases, be resolved with unanimous agreement.

Britain, Estonia, Italy, Spain and Sweden -- Turkey's traditional allies -- had only wanted three chapters frozen; those most closely linked to its customs relations with the EU.

Austria and Cyprus wanted more, while Greece demanded that a strict timetable be established for monitoring Turkey's progress.

"Today is not just about Turkey which is the subject of the debate, it's also the EU's credibility," Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn warned before the meeting in Brussels got underway.

 

E.U. Commission Happy With Decisin On Turkey's Entry Talks, Spokesperson
Published: 12/12/2006

BRUSSELS - European Commission expressed satisfaction Tuesday over the EU foreign ministers' decision about the future of Turkey's entry talks.
"We believe that the decision provides a firm and clear basis to manage Turkey's future accession negotiations," Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen, commission's deputy chief spokesperson said.

EU foreign ministers decided on Monday to impose a partial suspension on Turkey's membership talks over a ports dispute with Greek Cyprus.

 

Eclipsed
Published: 12/12/2006

BY ENIS BERBEROGLU
HURRIYET- Some people considered the suggestion to open one harbor and one airport to the Greek Cypriot a departure from state policy. When the state and politics started to fight, Brussels started to watch. In other words, some Turkish people attempted to sell out the country, but the EU didn’t show concern over this? Is this right? Let me tell you what actually happened. The EU train could have gotten back on track, but now there’s no way. This is a hole in the state’s 50-year policy. I hope this is advantageous for all of us! The Presidential Palace said that it didn’t know about the new proposal, which saddened the Foreign Ministry staff.

It seems that when TV stations broke the story of the proposal based on Finnish sources, they reported that the Presidential Palace had been told that Turkey’s stance on the Cyprus issue was unchanged. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer sat at the table with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for a National Committee meeting with this information. Anyhow, the General Staff was visited earlier this week. Following the National Committee meeting, the chief of General Staff and the prime minister talked for a short while. After Erdogan left the Presidential Palace, the president and chief of General Staff talked for half an hour. When I asked why Erdogan’s views weren’t sought, those who are angry with Erdogan said that this is how the state’s order operates. So let me ask in accordance with the state’s tradition: Why hasn’t Sezer called for a National Security Council (NSC) meeting? Isn’t the NSC the proper place for the military and civilians to talk about these issues? Actually, the suggestion made by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was approved by the NSC. Do you know what’s the only difference between the suggestion made to Finland and the other suggestion? The condition of one year, in other words, Turkey’s right to withdraw its suggestion. The answer to the Finnish plan wasn’t discussed at the NSC, as no meeting has been held since Oct. 31. The NSC will convene again this month, but it’s hard to tell what will happen there. Its date and what it will discuss are still unclear. The argument over the harbor proposal eclipsed those over next year’s presidential election. It overshadowed all the discussions. Maybe having general elections earlier than next fall would lower the tension. However, considering this crisis of confidence, it seems Erdogan’s opponents will put barriers to him reaching the Presidential Palace.

 

The Eu Is Right But Unfair
Published: 12/7/2006

BY MUHARREM SARIKAYA
SABAH- When the EU Commission’s advisory decision was announced, last week main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that a new roadmap was needed. I spoke with Baykal on the new roadmap and its aims yesterday. His suggestion isn’t based on ending our full EU membership vision, but he criticized the current situation. He thinks that policies should be put on the right track for full membership and criticized the capricious rules which are reshaped according to elections concerns in each EU country. As he emphasized in his written statement following the Commission’s decision, he wants the following three messages to be given to the EU. Firstly, the Cyprus issue can’t be a precondition and nobody should have expectations about it. Secondly, Turkey is determined to continue with its democratization process. Thirdly, Turkey will make all efforts to improve individual freedoms, which is the EU’s basic philosophy, but we won’t open the door to collective or communal freedoms. Baykal wants Turkey to receive an overall answer from the EU concerning the issue of full membership and so learn whether such rights as free movement and agricultural support, which were given to other countries, would be provided to Turkey or not. Baykal said that if these rights are given to us, we should continue our way. ‘Otherwise, we should draw a new roadmap for ourselves,’ he said.


Baykal also said that certain EU members were criticizing certain impositions on Turkey and that the EU recently lacked vision. He accused the EU countries of being in an incoherent competition with each other based on each others’ interests. Baykal said that this incoherence was also applied on Turkey as well and referred to the Greek Cypriot administration without mentioning it by name. ‘The pressure through small details plus certain cunning acts are obstacles before relations between Turkey and the EU,’ he added. The EU should make a decision.’ Baykal also answered criticisms of the CHP’s stance on the EU. ‘We have always supported Turkey’s EU bid,’ he said. ‘However, since Dec. 17, 2004, the EU has imposed many things on Turkey. At that time, I told Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that I would go with him but that if something wrong happens and we can’t go back together, then I wouldn’t come. Since then, what I warned of has happened. Although I warned him, he put down his signature on Dec. 17 and made Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul sign another agreement in July 2005.’ He added that after signing the additional protocol envisaging that harbors and airports in Turkey would open to the Greek Cypriot administration, Ankara had troubles. ‘Now the EU is imposing on Turkey by depending on the signatures in an unequal and unfair, but right way,’ said Baykal. ‘It’s right, because Erdogan and other government ministers have signed it. It’s unequal, because it isn’t included in the EU conditions.’ Baykal told me that he said the same things to the British prime minister’s advisor responsible for the EU last week. These are Baykal’s views about the future and the CHP’s stance on the EU.

 

We Can Cope With 2007
Published: 12/4/2006

BY FERAI TINC
HURRIYET - We should ask ourselves what has happened since the European Union decided to start membership talks with Turkey. It was written and said that the Cyprus issue would obstruct the process and that the only solution to stop it would be accelerating reforms. This warning was ignored, no serious effort was made for Turkey’s domestic problems, and criticisms made by different sectors of the nation were passed over. However, politicians are responsible for finding a consensus which would relieve everybody, aren’t they? Yes, but the government chose to do nothing due to next year's elections. The problem with Article 301 came up because of the media, but the government only said that it would consider how the law is applied. The lack of a social democratic movement which would create a momentum for reform is more bad luck for us. Relations with the EU have already been frozen since June. The search for a way out is still ongoing, but the outcome of the leaders’ summit to be held on Dec. 14-15 won’t change this situation either. Greece, the Greek Cypriot administration and certain EU countries are even trying to toughen the commission’s suggestions. They want to give Turkey an ultimatum saying that if we don’t open our harbors and airports to the Greek Cypriot administration by a certain period of time, the entire process would be suspended.

Obviously, Turkey can’t and won’t take a step concerning the Cyprus issue. There’s a broad public consensus on this issue, and the Greek Cypriots have lost their European card. They can’t continue their policy of putting pressure on Turkey with the trump card of a process which has been halted. Things for the EU to do on Turkey next year have already been postponed, because such influential European countries as France and Germany aren’t in a good place for this. France is getting ready for the next year’s elections, Germany is preparing a new proposal for the EU constitution and Greece also has elections next year. The period until 2008 is a great opportunity for us to produce our own solutions. What’s happening in Canakkale is a good example of this. Although Canakkale is one of the most important cities which has left Turkey’s mark on world’s history, this city is reached only with great difficultly. It’s on the shores of an important strait which connects the cold sea to the warm one. It’s also one of the most important harbors of the northern Aegean, but it has yet to prove its value in the maritime business, trade or tourism. However, the first ro-ro (roll on, roll off) ship left for Italy yesterday from a harbor built in Kepez thanks to the efforts of non-governmental organizations, businessmen, universities and local leaders. In addition, domestic flights started to Canakkales. Canakkale is now opening to the world. This is a beginning and an important step for in the city’s history. This is an example which shows that the criteria of civilization can be reached through out own power and wide-ranging cooperation. We should use this example for 2007, put ourselves in order, and find solutions to our problems.

 

AKP's Dülger: Gov’t not selling Cyprus
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
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DIPLOMACY
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» Turkish, Iraqi ministers spar over Kirkuk at Bahrain meeting
» EU struggles to find mid way formula on Turkey
» Gül warns EU not to impede Turkey’s desire for reform
» Orientalism has become the mainstream policy
» AKP's Dülger: Gov’t not selling Cyprus
» Amplification
» EU holds tough talks on Turkey
» Diplomacy Newsline
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GÖKSEL BOZKURT

ANKARA - TDN Parliament Bureau


Mehmet Dülger, head of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Commission, yesterday dismissed criticism of the government's last-minute proposal to open a port and an airport to traffic from European Union member Greek Cyprus in order to avoid a “train crash” in its membership negotiations.

“The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) would be first to say that Turkey is not a country in the bag. Nobody can say that Turkey is making concessions on Cyprus,” Dülger told the Turkish Daily News in an interview.

On Thursday, Ankara offered to open one port and one airport for 12 months to Greek Cypriot trade, while expecting a solution to the 32-year division of Cyprus during that period. The statements made by Dülger appeared to be a response to statements made by main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, who argued that the government had dragged its EU policy into deadlock by making concessions.

Dülger complained that early comments were made with regard to the government's verbal proposal on the ports dispute. “The taste of the food is being questioned and discussed before it is cooked. This is very wrong.”

Replying to the criticism leveled at the government's Cyprus policy, Dülger said: “The government is said to have sold Cyprus. Why should we do so? Did we giveaway even a single stone from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC)? If there are those who think in this way, then I tell them to dare to do so. They should come and prove that.”

He said the government had tried to reach a compromise with the EU over the ports dispute. “This is a bargain… Everyone has an idea but they don't know anything. Let the Foreign Ministry work and submit its proposal. The food is being cooked in the kitchen… Let the food be cooked first and then decide whether it is salty, sweet and say whether you like it or not,” Dülger advised.

Ankara's surprise proposal caused a rift within the country, with the military and the president saying they were not informed by the government's Cyprus offer.

“If I were Mr. President I'd host a summit [over the ports row]. But this issue is being discussed via the press. This is not correct. The government pursues the state policy, while the other is in charge of consultation. The General Staff cannot make a political decision, cannot give accounts. The government is responsible for giving accounts,” he added.

In comments on the future of the Turkish-EU relations, CHP Hatay deputy İnal Batu said he did not believe that ties with the 25-nation bloc would come to a breakdown but that the speed of the train had slowed down. “It would be Greece and the Greek Cypriots that would be most concerned by such a breakdown,” he added.

However, Batu said that Turkey's EU train was going towards a dark tunnel and added that he saw privileged partnership, something that falls short of full membership, at the end of the tunnel.

 

Turkey is tripping itself up
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
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OPINIONS
All News »

» Critical days in EU ties
(Yusuf KANLI)
» An addiction of a different kind
(AYŞE ÖZGÜN)
» Security measures under scrutiny
(TOMMASO NELLI)
» About the ecumenical title
(Cengiz Aktar)
» Turkey is tripping itself up
(MEHMET ALİ BİRAND)
» The way the West views the West
(Gündüz Aktan)
» The Southeast and the Hezbollah
(CÜNEYT ÜLSEVER)
» MORE

The game of chess between Turkey and the European Union has entered an extremely dire strait. Turkey’s proposal to open one port and one airport to the Greek Cypriot administration has widened the divide within the European Union. The 'NO' front is angry. The Greeks are extremely unnerved. The 'YES' front on the other hand, is asserting that 'Turkey is taking an important step, and we should reciprocate with a gesture.' We are going through a period when every statement and every step has an explosive effect.

MEHMET ALİ BİRAND


The game of chess between Turkey and the European Union has entered an extremely dire strait. Turkey's proposal to open one port and one airport to the Greek Cypriot administration has widened the divide within the European Union. The “NO” front is angry. The Greeks are extremely unnerved. The “YES” front on the other hand, is asserting that “Turkey is taking an important step, and we should reciprocate with a gesture.” We are going through a period when every statement and every step has an explosive effect.

In other words, an international bargain tied to a very thin thread is in place. One declaration, one unnecessary statement might end up with one of the sides' scoring in an own goal.

Statements of the chief of general staff and the president that came at such a critical stage, the unnecessary discussion between the chief of staff and the Foreign Ministry and the severe reaction of the opposition reflected on the European Union capitals in a much different manner than their repercussions here. The anti-Turkey front interpreted these developments as a possible objection from the army. “The Turkish government might not stick to its promise.” The presidency's statement was not greatly taken into consideration, but the statement of the chief of general staff hit like a minor earthquake. The aftershocks are still continuing.

Naturally, the Greeks are now provoking Germany and France saying: “Ankara is only putting on a show. Even if we did that, they won't be able to keep their promise. The army will stop them.”

The YES front, lead by England, is not doing nothing either. They argue: “If we are harsh against Turkey, we might weaken the Erdoğan government. You saw that the army and the nationalist president gave harsh reactions right away,” to defend their own thesis (for reducing the penalty of Turkey).

Erdoğan's statements: “We are not supposed to consult on everything. We make the political decisions. What's more, they had been informed,” were not enough to cool off the questions in Brussels.

The ports issue, once an international problem, is beginning to show signs of transforming into a regime issue in Turkey. The thread is getting ever thinner.

Those who don't want to sever the last thread are talking about freezing the issue until 2007.

The outcome is most likely to reach certainty in the summit at the end of this week.


Athens is a lap ahead thanks to the EU:

I was in Athens last weekend for a conference on Turkey and the EU. After the conference, I spent my time wondering around. As I observed the development and increasing wealth in Greece, I was both envious and sorry for us.

It has been 25 years since Greece became a full member of the European Union. I knew Greece and the Greek people prior to that. I cannot help but notice the amazing difference between that time and today.

Turkey and Greece set out hand in hand in the early 1940s. The West (the United States and the major countries of Europe) was very cautious about treating both equally. They were made members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the European Council and NATO together. In those days, Greece didn't see itself as European. It was both scared of Turkey and hated it. The people of Greece had a middle-income level. There was no major difference in terms of wealth or mentality between the two countries. Ankara would push Athens around relying on its largeness. I know these facts, for I frequently travelled to Athens starting in 1960.

The paths of Turkey and Greece separated in 1983, with Athens' full membership in the EU.

A quarter of a century later, the picture is very different. Today, Greece is 25 laps ahead of Turkey. It looks like it will be adding more laps as long as we stay out of the EU.

The people of Greece today don't perceive themselves as an obscure nation. On the contrary, they consider themselves to be “Europeans.” They have gained confidence. They no longer fear Turkey's greatness and power. They feel confident thanks to the EU. Greece has also, very intelligently, shifted the Cyprus problem to the EU and therefore is comfortable. Earlier, it had to struggle with Turkey on its own. Today, it is the EU struggling for it.

In its dialogue with Turkey, it is not resorting to the Greek mentality, but rather, a European mentality. It says, “Law, for us Europeans, is more important than anything else.” It can express itself better to the rest of the world not as “Greece,” but as “EU member Greece” because it has adopted EU legislation.

It is teaching Turkey a lesson in how to become a European Union member. This approach drives those of us, like me, who know the past of the country crazy, but at the same time raises feelings of great respect.

I am ruefully watching tiny Greece get laps and laps ahead of Turkey without making much effort, thanks only to its EU membership.

I ask myself, “Why don't we have a Karamanlis (the leader who made Greece enter the EU, risking all that was at stake) or a Simitis (the leader who made Cyprus enter the EU)? Why do we lack leaders with a vision?”

When I see the change in Greece, I believe in Turkey's march to Europe even more. My confidence that one day we too will start getting laps ahead of others around us and narrow the gap between Greece and us increases
 

Critical days in EU ties
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
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OPINIONS
All News »

» Critical days in EU ties
(Yusuf KANLI)
» An addiction of a different kind
(AYŞE ÖZGÜN)
» Security measures under scrutiny
(TOMMASO NELLI)
» About the ecumenical title
(Cengiz Aktar)
» Turkey is tripping itself up
(MEHMET ALİ BİRAND)
» The way the West views the West
(Gündüz Aktan)
» The Southeast and the Hezbollah
(CÜNEYT ÜLSEVER)
» MORE

TDN editorial by Yusuf KANLI
The EU ministers meeting now and the EU leaders meeting later this week must understand and appreciate under what conditions the AKP government has been trying to untie this Cyprus knot and the possible heavy cost it may pay.

Yusuf KANLI
The European Union General Affairs Council, or the foreign ministers' meeting, got under way yesterday. Apart from the Turkey sanctions on its agenda, the meeting was just another of the council's routine monthly sessions. Whether the ministers will establish a consensus on sanctions toward Turkey was still unclear when this article was being written. Indeed, there was little expectation of agreement among the 25 ministers, who were divided into two groups -- critical and less critical of Turkey -- and it seems likely that the final decision will again be left to the EU Council, or leaders' summit, due to convene on Dec. 14-15.

Reports from Brussels indicated that while Germany and France have toned down their position on Turkey and were likely to accept suspension of accession talks on some chapters -- six to eight of the total 35 -- without a review clause, the Greek Cypriot state, Austria and of course Greece were demanding a firm review clause and suspension of talks on a higher number of chapters to demonstrate to Ankara the heavy price of not fulfilling its obligations.

The anti-Turkey group was apparently determined “to take speed out of the process at this juncture,” as Austria's Ursula Plassnik declared when she entered the ministers' meeting yesterday. This second group was reportedly demanding the suspension of talks on eight to 15 chapters, accompanied by a review clause and a reaffirmation that none of the chapters opened in the mean time would be closed unless the commission reported Turkey's full compliance with the terms of the additional protocol expanding the customs union deal to cover all new members, including the Greek Cypriot state.

What will the eventual outcome will be and whether the ministers will succeed in establishing a consensus on the sanctions -- or, as has been the case in the past few years, allow the leaders' summit on Dec. 14-15 to become yet another Turkey summit -- will become clear by this afternoon at the latest. Our anticipation is that the ministers will not be able to establish a consensus and that the issue will be referred to the leaders, who will have to make a political assessment, also taking into consideration the expanding Turkish economy -- heading towards becoming Europe's sixth largest, with a cumulative growth of 35 percent over the past four years -- its vast potential and the possible contribution it can offer to the overall EU project in this age of polarization of civilizations.

Although Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has already declared that he will not travel to Brussels for a last-ditch compromise with the EU leaders -- something that has become a tradition since 2002 -- perhaps we may seen once again the official Prime Ministry plane heading to the Belgian capital late on the night of Dec. 15. That will definitely not be a surprise as we have gotten used to late-night “stop the clock” deals between Ankara and the EU. Prime Minister Erdoğan's statement describing the latest contentious Turkish “verbal” proposal -- to open a port and an airport “unconditionally” to Greek Cypriots with the expectation that the EU will not only support a Cyprus settlement under the aegis of the United Nations within 2007 but at the same time would move to ease the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots and allow international trade and direct flights from northern Cyprus -- as “Plan B” and the fact that there is also a “Plan C” -- makes us more hopeful that we may indeed experience some further surprising openings from Turkey in the next few days.

Of course, how much such proposals stir up domestic politics and what their political cost to the government will be is a totally different subject. However, the government's efforts to avoid Cyprus becoming an official criterion for the future of the Turkish accession talks must be appreciated.

It is not easy for any government to make such proposals that could derail the entire established policy of a country on a key national issue as that country heads toward twin elections. Even if Ankara's latest offer, and perhaps a second offer in few days' time, is rejected by the Greek Cypriots and the EU held hostage by them, the political cost of the move will be heavy for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government.

Though we are all mostly inclined to be critical of the AKP government, if we are truly aware of the consequences of the Cyprus issue becoming a criterion for Turkish accession and if we are really concerned about this country's interests, we have to appreciate these efforts. Even though what we know so far about the Turkish proposal is that it seems tantamount to surrender, we believe that there are elements in it that are presently unknown to us that would establish a balance within this package.

Otherwise, the AKP has started floating in such dangerous waters that even salvaging the EU process may not help it survive the huge waves it is bound the face in the days and weeks ahead.

The EU ministers meeting now and the EU leaders meeting later this week must understand and appreciate under what conditions the AKP government has been trying to untie this Cyprus knot and the possible heavy cost it may pay.


 

The way the West views the West
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
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OPINIONS
All News »

» Critical days in EU ties
(Yusuf KANLI)
» An addiction of a different kind
(AYŞE ÖZGÜN)
» Security measures under scrutiny
(TOMMASO NELLI)
» About the ecumenical title
(Cengiz Aktar)
» Turkey is tripping itself up
(MEHMET ALİ BİRAND)
» The way the West views the West
(Gündüz Aktan)
» The Southeast and the Hezbollah
(CÜNEYT ÜLSEVER)
» MORE

Today the basic issue of contention in the world is Islamist terrorism. Well before the emergence of this terrorism, Huntington had argued that the clash between ideologies had come to an end and that now a religion-based clash of civilizations would begin. When al-Qaeda staged the Sept. 11 attacks, it led to the conclusion that the clash of civilization had actually began.

Gündüz Aktan
Last week's Newsweek featured an article on Turkey by Owen Matthews, titled “How Europe has lost Turkey.” In that article, three concepts were striking. He points out that it is because the Europeans cannot overcome “prejudices” against Turkey that Europe is not making Turkey a European Union member. He says that the train wreck is occurring due to “petty” causes, referring to Cyprus in that context. And, saying it is a phenomenon that Turkey will never be an EU member, he refers to that phenomenon as a “tragedy -- a catastrophe, potentially -- of epochal proportions.”

Today the basic issue of contention in the world is Islamist terrorism. Well before the emergence of this terrorism, Huntington had argued that the clash between ideologies had come to an end and that now a religion-based clash of civilizations would begin. When al-Qaeda staged the Sept. 11 attacks, it led to the conclusion that the clash of civilization had actually began.

In every struggle one side can claim the ultimate victory when it manages to turn its rival into “something similar” to itself. In the past, one would conduct imperialistic policies aimed at eliminating rivalry by destroying the rival country. Today that is no longer possible. The Western Bloc defeated the Soviet system without a war. And in the course of that struggle the Communist ideology lost its validity (for the time being), making way for democracies. This time too the West is preaching the democratization of the Muslim countries to win the fight against “terrorism in the name of Islam.”

In this context, from the strategic angle, the Anglo-Saxons greatly value Turkey's potential to be a role model. Yet Huntington had doubted that westernization would prove to be a lasting trait in Turkey, a country astride the deep cultural fault line dividing Islam and the West. Before he became pope, Cardinal Ratzinger had said that Turkey was Europe's historical rival and that Turkey's place was not in Europe. Before Sarkozy and Merkel, many other politicians (such as Delors, D'Estaing and Kohl) had expressed similar views, clearly articulating the religious/cultural differences.

This is due partly to the fact that Turkey has not yet completed its modernization process. The West describes the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government as “moderate Islam” but still fears that it could slide towards radical Islam. The West knows that the Turkish army would effectively defend Turkey's secularism but still it thinks that this situation is not democratic. So, the West believes that in its present state, Turkey neither constitutes a perfect model for other Muslim countries nor seems ready for EU membership.

This dilemma could have been avoided if the EU had displayed a real political will in favor of Turkish membership in order to help Turkey achieve socioeconomic development and further democratization. Yet, on “petty” pretexts (by citing the Cyprus issue, for example), the EU avoids doing so.

However we are aware that it is because of “prejudices” that continental Europe is not admitting Turkey into its ranks. In reality, “prejudice” is a euphemism for “anti-Semitism” or other forms of racism. These prejudices, reinforced by the grim conditions created by the World War I and the Great Depression of 1929, led to the Holocaust only some 60 years ago.

That disaster, however, was not an exception in European history. European history is full of smaller tragedies of this kind: the destruction of the lepers, the Inquisition, the witch hunt, the massacre of Cathars and the Jewish pogroms in the Medieval Age and the colonialism and the massacring of native peoples and the slave trade in modern times. In other words, the harsh mechanism of creating the “other” that lurks beneath the “European identity” has caused great tragedies.

Therefore the EU has not been merely a project that aims to prevent intra-European wars but also a “civilization” project that aims to eliminate this “other-making” mechanism. Yet, today, the racism against the Muslim diaspora and the exclusionary attitude towards Turkey indicates that liberal democracy in Europe has failed to resolve that problem, although it has lessened it.

In this context it is obvious that making Turkey a member is a moral burden that Europe cannot bear. The “catastrophe of the epoch” however, will not be that Turkey will not be a EU member or that it will not be possible to set Turkey up as an example for the Islamic world.

The problem is that keeping Turkey outside the EU will not help eliminate racism in Europe. As history shows, getting bogged down ever more deeply in the quicksand of its own prejudices, Europe will, in order to justify its stance, make claims to the effect that the Muslims (whom it is demonizing as it once had the Jews) are not compatible with its high level of civilization, that they are uncivilized, undemocratic even a-historical, thus making them its dangerous other.

This process will simply transform today's manageable problem into something catastrophic.
 

From the columns
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
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Destur:

Mehmet Altan, StarIf they stopped a passer-by on the street and asked him “What are human rights?” many would reply, at least in my opinion, “Destur, [an expression with no translation, meaning “What? What are you talking about?” in this specific case] brother” and go on their way. Yesterday was the 58th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Human Rights Convention. I took a look at the list of celebrations to mark the day. It was as if society had said “Destur,” and gone on its way. First, I looked to the top of the state: the statements of the president, parliament speaker, prime minister and foreign minister. Then I went on to the statements of political and civil society organizations: the Democratic Society Party (DTP), the Turkish Bar Association (TBB) and Amnesty International. They were all very weak. The lowest income group in Turkey earns 13 times less than the highest income group. There is an enormous disparity between regions. There are scores of jobless people, still people say “Destur, brother” when they hear about human rights. If a person cannot value themselves, if their basic needs for food and shelter haven't been met, it becomes still harder to realize the importance of the rights one has. On Dec. 8, 2000 the EU charter of fundamental rights was adopted. The charter regulates the fundamental rights of the people and the responsibilities of the European Union to its citizens. This document has the potential to solve the problems of every country without “creating enemies.” For me, Human Rights Day will be the day the Turkish people stand up for their rights under this charter.

Erdoğan hurls insults at everybody:

Hasan Demir, Yeni Çağ:Prime Minister [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan has indeed become a “mishap” for the country. He swears at citizens' mothers, he scolds the founding president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) and even snaps at President [Ahmet Necdet Sezer] saying “Am I supposed to ask you?” [According to media reports, the presidency was not informed about Turkey's intention to propose opening a port and airport to Greek Cyprus] No other head of any of the world's countries talks to their own citizens the way Erdoğan does. Erdoğan feels that he is a sultan now that he has been voted into office and expects everyone to say so. In reality, the percentage of people who didn't want to see him in that position is 70 percent.

A speech disapproving of the culture of diversity:

Kürşat Bumin, Yeni ŞafakI am referring to Orhan Pamuk's Nobel Lecture. I listened to the 10-page speech with literature and his literature in the center as if it was a chapter from one of his books. Unlike most journalists, my I didn't get tears in my eyes. This is not because the speech was not emotional. I think the themes he mentioned in his speech using the suitcase metaphor were very profound and serious. The speech was a serious humanist call, stressing that literature could bring people similar to each other closer together and provide a universal language for them, not approving of the “culture of diversity,” despite recognition of the various benefits of diversity. The speech attributed a power that can break the despair imposed by the “Tower of Babel.” The confusion of languages could be overcome with “translatability.” For Pamuk, literature is the only remedy

Farewell to the journey companion:

Erdal Şafak, SabahThe week when support for EU membership -- currently estimated at 20 to 30 percent -- will hit the bottom is starting. If [pro-EU] organizations such as the Turkish Businessmen's and Industrialists' Association (TÜSİAD), Turkish Young Businessmen's Association (TÜGİAD) and even the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) are rebelling against the EU, imagine what the rest will do. Well, this exciting week starts off with a meeting of EU foreign ministers. While we were going through the meeting schedule, we couldn't help but notice that a conference with Croatia was scheduled for 18:00 GMT. It transpires that the second chapter of Croatia's negotiations is to start today [Monday]. This means that Turkey and Croatia are going down their own separate lanes on the EU journey. During the leaders' summit in 2004, a common calendar was set for the two countries. The first chapter of negotiations, “Science and Technology,” was opened and closed on the same day. Then the commission needed unanimous approval from 25 countries. That is when countries watching for an opportunity to trip Turkey up stuck out their legs: Greek Cyprus, Austria, Greece, Germany and especially France. We say France in particular, for even the Greeks gave up in the end, but France did not quit its stance in setting a political criterion for this chapter, which has nothing to do with it. We missed most of the games being played in Brussels, because we were deeply focused on developments regarding Turkey. The problem is neither Cyprus nor its ports and the Customs Union. The problem is about first engaging Turkey indefinitely, making it forget and then taking Croatia in as soon as possible. As examples of two-facedness and double standards becomes routine, you start to doubt if staying as one of the last supporters of the EU is the right choice. What do you think? Should we move at least one of our feet outside the circle?

 

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Tuesday, December 12, 2006
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Greek Cypriots estimate getting $8 bln for Varosha:

ANK - Turkish Daily News

Following the recent release of a ruling by the Strasbourg based-European Court of Human Rights concerning a landmark property claim in Cyprus, the Greek Cypriot administration has estimated that they would be able to get $8 billion as compensation from Turkey for the uninhabited city of Varosha, which was abandoned by the Greek Cypriots after 1974 and is now in Turkish Cypriot territory, news reports said.

Last week, the court ordered Turkey to pay Xenides-Arestis 800,000 euros after she was denied access to her house in Famagusta following the Turkish military intervention on the island in 1974. Xenides-Arestis, who owns several properties in the northern Cypriot city, will also receive 50,000 euros in so-called “moral damages” although the court recognized that Turkish Cypriot authorities had made efforts to compensate her.

Taking into consideration the growth of properties that were subject to last week's ruling, the Greek Cypriot administration has calculated an estimated compensation accordingly by making a calculation on square meters, the private CNN-Türk news station reported, citing an earlier report by Greek Cypriot daily Politis.

 

A sharp reprimand to Turkey from EU
2006-12-12 13:07:42
By Katrin Bennhold for the International Herald Tribune

Monday, December 11, 2006

BRUSSELS

European Union foreign ministers agreed Monday to partially suspend Turkey's membership talks because Ankara has refused to open its ports and airports to Cyprus.

But, in an apparent compromise, the ministers did not set a deadline for compliance. "We have an agreement," said the Austrian foreign minister, Ursula Plassnik. "A crisis summit has been averted," referring to the fact that failure to reach an agreement during the session would have caused the dispute over Turkey to spill over into a formal summit meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.

The last-minute compromise came after weeks of diplomatic maneuvering as Cyprus, Greece and other countries lobbied for an ultimatum, while other nations, including Britain, sought to keep sanctions to a minimum. The EU enlargement commissioner, Olli Rehn, welcomed the compromise, asserting that it sent a double signal to Turkey — that accession obligations had to be fulfilled, but that the EU was serious about keeping membership talks with its Muslim neighbor on track.

"This decision strikes the right balance," Rehn said. "It is a very carefully calibrated decision."

The ministers endorsed a proposal by the European Commission to freeze 8 of the 35 chapters, or discussion points, in the membership talks that are related to transportation, agriculture, financial services and trade. Turkey's compliance will be reviewed on an annual basis.

The EU leaders still have to sign off on the deal, at the summit meeting at the end of the week.

Germany, which in January will take over the EU's rotating presidency from Finland, pledged to seek an agreement to lift the EU trade embargo on the northern, Turkish held part of Cyprus, as had been promised by the bloc in 2004. The German foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, also said that Berlin would "encourage" a resumption of the United Nations talks to unify the island.

Diplomats said the initiative could inject new life into Turkey's accession bid and avert the "train crash" the European Commission has been warning of for months. "I'm sorry to disappoint you. There will be no train crash," said the British foreign secretary, Margaret Beckett. "The train is in fact still firmly on the track." She said Turkey's entry into the Union was of "strategic" importance to both the EU and Ankara.

Turkey has NATO's second-largest army and an economy that has grown at four times the pace of the EU in recent years. Inviting Turkey into the bloc would send a strong signal not only to the Muslim world, but also to the bloc's 15 million Muslim residents. Despite a string of political and economic reforms in recent years, Turkey's human rights record remains spotty. Its size and Muslim heritage worry voters in several EU countries.

The 14-month old accession talks have bogged down over the status of Cyprus, an EU member whose Greek- Cypriot government in the southern part of the island Ankara refuses to recognize. The EU gave Turkey until this month to open trade links, in keeping with a 2005 agreement in which Turkey said it would extend its customs union to all 25 EU members. But Ankara has so far refused, saying it will only give way if the EU acts on its promise to end the economic isolation of the north.

The breakthrough on Monday came after Ankara last week made an oral offer to temporarily open one of its ports to Cyprus. Although diplomats here dismissed the proposal as incomplete, some acknowledged good will on Ankara's part.

But others warned that despite the compromise, Turkey's membership talks could slow down in the coming months because of a busy election schedule in three key countries. France, which has so far officially supported Ankara's ambitions despite widespread public opposition, will choose a new president in May and one of the two front-runners, Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, has already vowed to suspend Turkish membership talks. Cyprus and Turkey also have national ballots scheduled as public enthusiasm for the EU has diminished markedly.

"Whatever happens this week, the road ahead is going to be rocky," said Sinan Ulgen, a former Turkish diplomat who is head of EDAM, an policy institute in Istanbul.

Despite the optimism on Monday, there was also increasing concern that because of deep divisions in the German government, Berlin will have difficulty giving clear direction when it takes over the EU's presidency on Jan. 1. Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition of conservatives and Social Democrats openly disagree over Turkey's place in Europe, with Merkel backing a strategic partnership and her foreign minister, the Social Democrat Steinmeier, supporting full membership.

"We must not destroy in a few days something that has grown over many years," Steinmeier said.

Steinmeier, a former chief of staff for Merkel's predecessor, Gerhard Schröder, who was himself a staunch supporter of Turkish membership, spent Monday trying to play down differences inside the coalition, insisting that he spoke to Merkel several times that day. But he was rebuked by Merkel's Christian Democrats. Volker Kauder, parliamentary leader of the conservative bloc, told Steinmeier that Merkel "did not need any advice" about Turkey.

Merkel has consistently defended the idea of granting Turkey "privileged partnership," in which this secular Muslim state would enjoy the same economic and trade conditions of EU states except voting rights, one of the most important aspects of full membership. The tension between the EU and Turkey has fueled a wider debate about whether the West risks losing Turkey. Relations between Ankara and Washington have also been strained in recent years.

In March 2003, Ankara refused to grant American troops the right to pass through its territory on their way to Iraq. Since then, the government has accused Washington of not doing enough to fight Kurdish separatists in Turkey who seek refuge in the Kurdish-controlled north of Iraq. Now some Turks have started looking to the United States, a longtime supporter of their membership bid, to exert pressure on their European allies to keep the talks on track.

"The United States could play a constructive role in this," said a Turkish diplomat in Brussels who declined to be identified. At the U.S. diplomatic mission in Brussels, diplomats were proceeding cautiously. Efforts to pressure European governments to open accession talks with Turkey during a summit meeting three years ago gave rise to accusations of bullying. "We are strongly supportive, but the EU membership question is something to be worked out between the EU and Turkey," a spokesman for the mission said.

Judy Dempsey contributed from Berlin.