BELGIUM/ITALY: EU set deadline for Turkey on Cyprus and Turkish foreign minister says his country is determined to meet EU's requirements on democratic reform

The European Commission on Wednesday (November 8) gave Turkey until mid-December to open its ports to shipping from Cyprus or face consequences for its European Union membership talks. Presenting his report in Brussels, Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn criticised Turkey for not implement the Ankara protocol. "Turkey has not fully implemented the additional protocol of the Ankara agreement. She is expected to ensure full implementation of the Ankara protocol and to remove obstacles to the free movement of goods including restrictions over transport. Failure to implement its obligations will affect the overall progress in the negotiations," he said. He warned that Turkey had until the forthcoming December summit to do so. Otherwise it will make recommendations regarding the progress of the accession talks. Rehn added however that he was pleased that Turkey was addressing EU demands it repeal or amend "without delay" of a key article of the penal code used to prosecute writers and intellectuals for expressing non-violent political opinions. It also sought greater efforts to strengthen religious freedom; the rights of women, minorities and trade unions; and civilian control over the military. And it urged Ankara to address human rights and social and economic problems in largely Kurdish southeastern Turkey. The Commissioner said it had chosen to be firm but fair adding it was untimely to take action against Turkey and act "like an elephant in a china shop". Furthermore, he warned critics of Turkey's accession not to hamper the country's chances to reform by provoking it into stalling. The 25-member EU executive criticised a slowdown in reforms since Ankara began talks last year but stopped short of recommending consequences for its accession process, leaving the decision to EU leaders when they meet on Dec. 14-15. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan ruled out a collapse of the EU talks, expected to last at least a decade, but acknowledged some negotiating 'chapters' might by held back. EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said EU expansion was not an express but "a slow, slow train coming and not precisely up around the bend". Yet it was essential to keep that train on track so the EU could use its "soft power" to transform its neighbourhood democratically. The Commission issued mixed reports on eight candidate or aspirant countries, recommending no dramatic step forward with any of them as it seeks to rebuild political support for an enlargement policy that now faces deep public scepticism. Most public doubts centre on Turkey, a sprawling, poor, overwhelmingly Muslim nation of 73 million on the southeastern fringe of Europe, which is the most populous and most different country ever to apply to join the 25-nation bloc. In a measured report, the Commission said Turkey had made progress in reforms but the pace had slowed in the last year. It urged "determined efforts" to increase the momentum in 2007. EU sources said four commissioners -- Markos Kyprianou of Cyprus, Jacques Barrot of France, Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Viviane Reding of Luxembourg -- sought tougher language towards Turkey but were rebuffed. Rehn voiced full support for the Finnish EU presidency's efforts to find a diplomatic solution on trade with Cyprus before the December summit. But those efforts suffered a setback last week when Helsinki failed to bring all the parties to the dispute around the table. Financial markets took the widely-leaked report in their stride. The lira weakened slightly to 1.4575 against the dollar, while the Istanbul's main stock index was 0.5 percent weaker. Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said on Wednesday (November 8) his country was determined to meet all the European Union's requirements on democratic reform to succeed in membership talks that would be "filled with obstacles". "We have been bringing forward our 'silent revolution' to comply with the Copenhagen criteria, to satisfy these criteria. We know this process will be filled with obstacles, it will be a difficult road. But we know we will succeed we will attain a good result. For our country that which we have to do we are doing, we are determined to do it. And we know that the Turkish people will benefit directly from these reforms. This is why these radical reforms are necessary and this is why I say we have completed almost a 'silent revolution.' We know some aspects are still missing but we are determined and we want to make sure that Turkey will become more and more democratic and meet all the criteria that have been set by the EU. We are determined and we know the benefits will go directly to the Turkish people - we are sure of this. These are the criteria of the EU and have to be implemented and we are aware of that," Abdullah Gul said. Turkey began entry talks a year ago and is under fire from Brussels over its refusal to open its ports to shipping from EU member Cyprus, whose Greek Cypriot government it does not recognise, as well as over issues such as freedom of expression. Ankara is required to bring its laws into line with those of the EU in 35 "chapters" or policy areas. The EU gave Turkey until mid-December to open its ports to ships from Cyprus or face unspecified consequences for its membership talks. Turkey has said the EU must first lift trade restrictions against minority Turkish Cypriots who Ankara backs in the north of the ethnically divided Mediterranean island. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would not react "emotionally" if EU leaders took a decision to slow down the entry talks when they hold a summit in Brussels in December. After the announcement of the report, there was calm in the streets in Istanbul under the sun. "I can say that the EU is not aware of its losses if it loses Turkey. The EU rules do not bound us. It will be Turkey who win in any case" said a women called Semra Nazli. Another Trukish citizien, Bulent Sari, said: "This is called progress report I guess. But as a matter of fact there is no progress. This is a very anti-democratic country and will continue like this. This country does not deserve EU membership." Ergun Babahan, columnist of Sabah, Turtkey's biggest newspaper, who is an expert on EU relations, evaluated the possible consequences of the report for Turkey and accused EU by acting like the kings of Spain. "It is quite important I guess there is no way in four weeks Turkey can find solution to Cyprus problem or can open the ports to Greek Cypriots because you do something in exchange for something. Turkey is going to gain nothing there is no guarantee for Turkey to be a part of EU in long term," he said. Turkey began entry talks a year ago and is under fire from Brussels over its refusal to open its ports to shipping from EU member Cyprus, whose Greek Cypriot government it does not recognise. Turkey in return has asked Eu countries to lift embargo to Turkish Cypriots.

ITN Source | November 9, 2006

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