Turkey’s tortuous European Union (EU) membership negotiations inched forward on Monday night after EU foreign ministers resolved a dispute with Cyprus over Ankara’s relations with the Greek half of the island. The Turkish Foreign Minister, Abdullah Gul, was due to fly into Luxembourg late on Monday night for a mini-summit, where the first of 35 ”chapters” in the negotiations would be formally opened — and then immediately closed.
The breakthrough, which saw Gul set off from Ankara hours behind schedule, came after the EU accepted a demand from Cyprus that Turkey should be told to normalise relations with the Greek half of the island. ”Failure to implement its obligations in full will affect the overall process in the negotiations,” the EU foreign ministers said in a statement presented to Turkey shortly before lunch.
The tough language was designed to warn Ankara that its lengthy negotiations to join the EU could be in trouble if it does not open up its ports and airports to Greek Cyprus, and if it fails to recognise the government in the southern half of the island. It must take the first step by the end of this year and will have to recognise its arch enemy in the course of the talks, which could last 15 years.
Nicosia welcomed the statement, which fell short of its original demand for an unequivocal recognition by Ankara of the Cypriot government. Cyprus’s Foreign Minister, George Iacovou, said: ”This wording satisfied our requirements. Turkey must fulfil every single requirement. There is no way out.”
Britain, Turkey’s strongest cheerleader in the EU, put a brave face on the statement. Geoff Hoon, the Europe Minister, said: ”The team may not have played well, but we are a goal in front.” In private, British officials voiced dismay that Gul was again left to kick his heels in Ankara as foreign ministers squabbled.
Turkey and Britain were uneasy because Monday night’s talks covered the least contentious area of the negotiations — science and research. One EU diplomat said: ”If it is like this on such a straightforward area, what will it be like when we come to justice and home affairs? The Cypriots haven’t made any friends today.”
The EU also opened and closed its first chapter of negotiations with Croatia on Monday. But this was done quickly, showing that the former Yugoslav republic is likely to join the EU well before Turkey. – Guardian Unlimited Â