EU tells Turkey time is running out over Cyprus dispute

October 15, 2006
International Herlad Tribune
The Associated Press


LUXEMBOURG European Union officials warned Turkey Monday that time was running out for it to implement a deal to open its ports to planes and ships from Cyprus or face a possible break in EU entry negotiations.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn urged Turkey to compromise on the sensitive issue, which he said may derail Ankara's bid to join the EU for years to come.

"We may have the last window of opportunity on the Cyprus issue in the coming weeks or months for a very long time, perhaps for years," Rehn told reporters before talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.

Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, whose country holds the EU presidency said nobody wants a suspension of the negotiations, despite growing frustration from Cyprus and Greece, both of which have threatened to block future talks if Ankara does not budge.

Last week, Greece and Cyprus forced the EU to postpone the opening of a new chapter of Turkey's EU membership talks — on industrial policy — until a solution to the customs dispute was found.

Finland has presented a new diplomatic effort to try to solve the problem by persuading Turkey to open its ports to the Greek Cypriots and offering to reduce restrictions on the Turkish-run north of the island.

The proposal would open up the northern Cyprus seaport of Famagusta to free trade with the EU. In return the Turkish side should hand over control of the abandoned town of Varosha.

Despite the threat of delays to its EU membership bid, Turkey has refused to open its ports to Greek Cypriots until an international embargo against Turkish-Cypriots in the north of the island is lifted.

Rehn said the Cyprus issue could prove to be the breaking point in the entry talks which were launched last October in Luxembourg. He appealed to all parties to help resolve the standoff.

"We have some tensions in EU-Turkey relations ... but we can't solve problems by dramatizing them, instead we have to work prudently and with full determination in order to find solutions," Rehn said. "Both communities and all the parties in the Cyprus problem should now really show political will."

Monday's talks also will be aimed at soothing Turkey after French lawmakers approved legislation that would criminalize denying the WWI killings of Armenians was genocide. The legislation still needs approval from the French Senate and president before it becomes law.

Top EU officials were quick to condemn the French legislators, saying such moves would increase tension with Ankara at a time when the European bloc is trying to encourage Turkey to push through political and judicial reforms.

The EU said the French bill also would damage reconciliation attempts under way between Turkey and Armenia.

Turkey has acknowledged that great numbers of Armenians were killed in fighting and mass expulsions, but does not accept the label of genocide. It has angrily demanded the French bill be retracted.

Rehn is due to give a report Nov. 8 on Turkey's progress in moving toward EU membership. Failure to end the dispute over trade with Cyprus is leading to calls for the talks to be suspended.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded after an attempted coup by supporters of union with Greece. Turkey has no diplomatic relations with the island's internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government, and backs the breakaway Turkish Cypriot republic in the north.

In 2004, Greek Cypriots voted against a U.N.-backed plan aimed at reuniting the country on the eve of its entry into the EU. Turkish Cypriots approved the plan in a separate referendum.

LUXEMBOURG European Union officials warned Turkey Monday that time was running out for it to implement a deal to open its ports to planes and ships from Cyprus or face a possible break in EU entry negotiations.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn urged Turkey to compromise on the sensitive issue, which he said may derail Ankara's bid to join the EU for years to come.

"We may have the last window of opportunity on the Cyprus issue in the coming weeks or months for a very long time, perhaps for years," Rehn told reporters before talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.

Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, whose country holds the EU presidency said nobody wants a suspension of the negotiations, despite growing frustration from Cyprus and Greece, both of which have threatened to block future talks if Ankara does not budge.

Last week, Greece and Cyprus forced the EU to postpone the opening of a new chapter of Turkey's EU membership talks — on industrial policy — until a solution to the customs dispute was found.

Finland has presented a new diplomatic effort to try to solve the problem by persuading Turkey to open its ports to the Greek Cypriots and offering to reduce restrictions on the Turkish-run north of the island.

The proposal would open up the northern Cyprus seaport of Famagusta to free trade with the EU. In return the Turkish side should hand over control of the abandoned town of Varosha.

Despite the threat of delays to its EU membership bid, Turkey has refused to open its ports to Greek Cypriots until an international embargo against Turkish-Cypriots in the north of the island is lifted.

Rehn said the Cyprus issue could prove to be the breaking point in the entry talks which were launched last October in Luxembourg. He appealed to all parties to help resolve the standoff.

"We have some tensions in EU-Turkey relations ... but we can't solve problems by dramatizing them, instead we have to work prudently and with full determination in order to find solutions," Rehn said. "Both communities and all the parties in the Cyprus problem should now really show political will."

Monday's talks also will be aimed at soothing Turkey after French lawmakers approved legislation that would criminalize denying the WWI killings of Armenians was genocide. The legislation still needs approval from the French Senate and president before it becomes law.

Top EU officials were quick to condemn the French legislators, saying such moves would increase tension with Ankara at a time when the European bloc is trying to encourage Turkey to push through political and judicial reforms.

The EU said the French bill also would damage reconciliation attempts under way between Turkey and Armenia.

Turkey has acknowledged that great numbers of Armenians were killed in fighting and mass expulsions, but does not accept the label of genocide. It has angrily demanded the French bill be retracted.

Rehn is due to give a report Nov. 8 on Turkey's progress in moving toward EU membership. Failure to end the dispute over trade with Cyprus is leading to calls for the talks to be suspended.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded after an attempted coup by supporters of union with Greece. Turkey has no diplomatic relations with the island's internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government, and backs the breakaway Turkish Cypriot republic in the north.

In 2004, Greek Cypriots voted against a U.N.-backed plan aimed at reuniting the country on the eve of its entry into the EU. Turkish Cypriots approved the plan in a separate referendum.

Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.