BRUSSELS, 17 September 2005 — EU ambassadors failed to agree yesterday over how to respond to Turkey’s refusal to recognize Cyprus, diplomats said, ahead of the start of EU entry talks with Ankara next month. Representatives from the European Union’s 25 member states held their second meeting this week on the EU’s response, which needs to be agreed before the Oct. 3 start of accession negotiations with the vast mainly Muslim country.
The EU’s British presidency, which has been trying to resolve the issue for weeks, has conceded that it may have to call a special meeting of EU foreign ministers, possibly on Sept. 26, if ambassadors cannot find an agreement. Turkey drew criticism in July when, while signing a protocol extending a customs accord with the EU to the bloc’s 10 newcomer states — including Cyprus — it declared this did not amount to a recognition of the Nicosia government.
The EU ministers had sought agreement on a “counterdeclaration,” but differences over how strongly it should press Ankara to recognize Cyprus have meant no text could be agreed. Earlier this week, Britain and France sought support for a compromise stating that Turkey should recognize Cyprus before joining the EU, but that failed to garner support when EU ambassadors met for regular weekly talks on Wednesday.
The latest draft for the meeting later yesterday, seen by AFP, proposes that the EU tell Ankara that “prior recognition of all (EU) member states is a necessary component of accession.” The draft also warns that failure by Turkey to fully implement the Ankara accord — notably by allowing Cypriot ships and planes to use its ports and airports — will slow down the pace of membership talks. “Failure to implement its obligations in full will affect the overall progress in the negotiations,” says the draft.
While the EU debates what position to take, Ankara has grown increasingly impatient, with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accusing the bloc of “rude” diplomatic conduct for placing new conditions on its bid to become a member.
Ankara argues that although it occupied the northern part of the island in 1974 to protect the Turkish population following a pro-Greek coup, it is not responsible for the continuing division of Cyprus.
Cyprus wants the EU declaration to include deadlines for Ankara to make progress in recognizing the Cypriot government — something which was not a precondition for Turkey to start accession talks. Cyprus is also pushing Turkey to allow its vessels into Turkish ports. Ankara has agreed to, but has not done so. One EU ambassador was pessimistic about prospects for reaching an agreement yesterday. “It may prove very difficult to reach a deal,” the ambassador said.
If the EU envoys fail to agree, they are due to meet again on Sept. 21. If they still differ, the EU will probably convene an extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers on Sept. 26 to thrash out an agreement. The argument within the EU concerns the declaration that the bloc plans to make in response to a Turkish statement in July which refused to recognize Cyprus.
