EU pulls the rug on Turkish talks over refusal to lift Cyprus blockade

November 30, 2006
The Times

By David Charter and Suna Erdem in Istanbul

Negotiations on eight issues halted

Blair denounces 'serious mistake' Video: Has Turkey's EU admission stalled?

Turkey reacted furiously yesterday to the proposed suspension of a large section of its talks on joining the EU as a punishment for its refusal to open trade with Cyprus.

Eight of 34 areas of negotiation will be frozen under the European Commission’s plan until Ankara fulfils an agreement signed last year to open its ports to Cyprus, an EU member that it does not recognise.

The Commission’s move was criticised by Britain, Sweden and Spain, but — in a sign of the faultlines within the Community over Turkish accession — was applauded by France and Germany.

Turkey itself was defiant, insisting that it was not prepared to make any further concessions. “We have set out the framework [for progress on Cyprus],” Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish Prime Minister, said. “If they are approaching the issue with the idea that they might grab a new concession, then we have no concession to make.”

He was referring to earlier statements that Turkey would open its ports only if the EU made good a pledge to end the economic isolation of the breakaway Turkish enclave of northern Cyprus. Nicosia has blocked any such relaxation.

Ankara is unlikely to make any move on Cyprus until after elections next year; an increasingly nationalistic public is likely to punish any sign of weakening on what is a pet issue for hardliners.

In spite of the blow to negotiations, Mr Erdogan said that Turkey would continue to make progress towards membership. “This is a long road — previously the date mentioned [for accession] was 2014. In the meantime we will continue talking and working on the remaining chapters and continue on our way just as before.”

Britain backed Turkey, describing the Commission’s position as “disappointingly tough” and voicing concerns that it could fuel anti-European sentiment and drive the country away from the EU.

Tony Blair said that the EU’s proposal was a “serious mistake”, while José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the Spanish Prime Minister, urged EU leaders to keep the door open to Ankara. Mr Blair’s concerns were shared by Carl Bildt, the Swedish Foreign Minister, who spoke of a possible calamity if EU leaders followed the tough Commission line next month. “If you put the brakes on too hard there is a risk of the collateral damage being very extensive,” he said. “If it comes to a standstill, we are talking about a strategic calamity for the EU in a rather volatile, sensitive part of our neighbourhood.”

But Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, who takes over the rotating EU presidency on January 1, approvingly called the proposal a strong signal and President Chirac, a powerful opponent of Turkish membership, insisted that the EU “had no other choice”.

The furore ensures that another row over Turkey will dominate the EU heads of government summit on December 15, which will take the final decision on the sanctions after they are considered by foreign ministers earlier that week.

As part of the punishment, talks on other areas of the accession process could be opened but will not be able to be signed off until Turkey resolves its blockade of Cypriot vessels, Olli Rehn, the Enlargement Commissioner, said. He added that Turkey could score a “golden goal” before the foreign ministers’ meeting.

Christodoulos Pashiardis, a Cypriot Government spokesman, said that freezing some aspects of the talks while allowing discussions on other areas was not a punishment.

Sticking points

Cyprus Turkey does not recognise the southern part of the divided island

Armenian genocide the Government will not acknowledge Turkey’s role in the massacre of hundreds of thousands of Armenians between 1915 and 1917

Article 301/1 states that “public denigration of Turkishness shall be punishable by imprisonment”. It was used to bring charges against the writer Orhan Pamuk, who acknowledged the Armenian genocide

The Kurds the minority group continues to be persecuted, with prosecutions brought against Kurds who use their language in public life. Only Turkish can be taught as a first language in schools

Clash of civilisations the predominantly Muslim culture has attracted accusations that Turkey lacks European credentials. France’s Interior Minister says that Turkey “has no place in Europe”

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.