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EUROPE DISCUSSES CYPRUS MORE THAN US: NO CONSENSUS REACHED YET
By Bahtiyar Kucuk, Brussels, Strasbourg
Zaman, Turkey
Oct 31 2006
Brussels and Strasbourg are two small cities where the heart of the
450 million-strong European Union beats.
There are currently exciting and heated debates going on in these
cities where the European Commission (EC), European Parliament (EP),
European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and European Council are located.
The main item on the agenda prior to the release of Turkey's Progress
Report on Nov. 8 is the Cyprus issue. Representatives in the EU's
administration units exchanged views with Turkish journalists in a
seminar, "Making More Sense of the EU," organized by the European
Journalism Center.
An EU official says that they are spending all their energy on the
Finnish plan in Europe, where different voices clamor for the future
of the island.
An expert from the Cyprus desk stressed that the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is geographically within the borders of EU and
claimed that the TRNC would go on to live as a minority within Cyprus.
Another EU official said that it was a big mistake for the EU to accept
a divided country into the union while another one said that several
countries hide behind South Cyprus for their own political purposes.
The most interesting statement about the Cyprus issue came from
Jacques Toubon, French member of the European Parliament. The
Christian Democrat Toubon defended that Turkey would never be
a part of Europe. When asked, "What percentage of Cyprus is in
Europe?" he responded, "Cyprus is geographically in Asia; however,
it is historically linked to Greece."
EU officials, who say that there will be hot debates in the EU Council
in December, think that it is a risky thing to consider another plan
for Cyprus.
The best thing to do is to change article 301
Diplomatic sources who talked about Turkey's diplomatic performance
with admiration before the start of negotiations expect similar steps
from Turkey.
The best thing for Turkey to do is abolish article 301 of the Turkish
Penal Code. Authorities point out that Turkey's "wait and see" policy
is wrong on this issue and think that hundreds of lawsuits because
of article 301 will be a headache for Ankara in the upcoming years.
Hannes Swobodo, deputy chairman of the EP Socialist Group explained
that the Armenian Bill passed in the French parliament was a blow to
freedom of expression, and added that countries should first look to
their own histories.
Although France is a founding member of the EU, it comes to the issue
with a history of torture perpetrated in Algeria, Swobodo reiterated.
One of the main concerns about Turkey's membership to the union is
the idea that the EU is a Christian club. This apparently a concern
in Austria and some parts of Germany and France as well.
EU sources indicated that they had refrained from starting negotiations
with Turkey for years due to Turkey's failure in maintaining democracy,
human rights and liberties, but they say that they believe in the
sincerity of the present administration.
Stressing that Turkey is a free and strong country, the EU sources say,
"We are not a teacher and you are not students".
The EU officials also warned: "The reform process should continue.
Otherwise, negotiations may be suspended".
By Bahtiyar Kucuk, Brussels, Strasbourg
Zaman, Turkey
Oct 31 2006
Brussels and Strasbourg are two small cities where the heart of the
450 million-strong European Union beats.
There are currently exciting and heated debates going on in these
cities where the European Commission (EC), European Parliament (EP),
European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and European Council are located.
The main item on the agenda prior to the release of Turkey's Progress
Report on Nov. 8 is the Cyprus issue. Representatives in the EU's
administration units exchanged views with Turkish journalists in a
seminar, "Making More Sense of the EU," organized by the European
Journalism Center.
An EU official says that they are spending all their energy on the
Finnish plan in Europe, where different voices clamor for the future
of the island.
An expert from the Cyprus desk stressed that the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is geographically within the borders of EU and
claimed that the TRNC would go on to live as a minority within Cyprus.
Another EU official said that it was a big mistake for the EU to accept
a divided country into the union while another one said that several
countries hide behind South Cyprus for their own political purposes.
The most interesting statement about the Cyprus issue came from
Jacques Toubon, French member of the European Parliament. The
Christian Democrat Toubon defended that Turkey would never be
a part of Europe. When asked, "What percentage of Cyprus is in
Europe?" he responded, "Cyprus is geographically in Asia; however,
it is historically linked to Greece."
EU officials, who say that there will be hot debates in the EU Council
in December, think that it is a risky thing to consider another plan
for Cyprus.
The best thing to do is to change article 301
Diplomatic sources who talked about Turkey's diplomatic performance
with admiration before the start of negotiations expect similar steps
from Turkey.
The best thing for Turkey to do is abolish article 301 of the Turkish
Penal Code. Authorities point out that Turkey's "wait and see" policy
is wrong on this issue and think that hundreds of lawsuits because
of article 301 will be a headache for Ankara in the upcoming years.
Hannes Swobodo, deputy chairman of the EP Socialist Group explained
that the Armenian Bill passed in the French parliament was a blow to
freedom of expression, and added that countries should first look to
their own histories.
Although France is a founding member of the EU, it comes to the issue
with a history of torture perpetrated in Algeria, Swobodo reiterated.
One of the main concerns about Turkey's membership to the union is
the idea that the EU is a Christian club. This apparently a concern
in Austria and some parts of Germany and France as well.
EU sources indicated that they had refrained from starting negotiations
with Turkey for years due to Turkey's failure in maintaining democracy,
human rights and liberties, but they say that they believe in the
sincerity of the present administration.
Stressing that Turkey is a free and strong country, the EU sources say,
"We are not a teacher and you are not students".
The EU officials also warned: "The reform process should continue.
Otherwise, negotiations may be suspended".