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European Report
October 12, 2006
EU/TURKEY : TALAT: FINNISH PROPOSAL ON CYPRUS IS NOT COMPREHENSIVE
"We try to be constructive on the Finnish Presidency's proposal.
However, Northern Cyprus is still very much committed to the Annan
plan, which is more comprehensive," said Turkish Cypriot leader
Mehmet Ali Talat on 10 October in Brussels.
The Finnish EU Presidency has recently launched a new diplomatic
drive to reach an agreement on the Cyprus problem before the end of
the year (see Europolitics 3162). The proposal, which is being
negotiated, is being kept secret by Finland. Its aim is to strike a
deal between Turkey and the Turkish and Greek communities of Cyprus
on lifting the isolation of the northern part of the island, which is
a precondition for Turkey to recognise Greek Cyprus. If an agreement
is not achieved in the coming weeks and Ankara does not recognise
Greek Cyprus by the end of 2006, accession negotiations might be
partly or entirely suspended. The Commission is expected to prepare
its position on this issue by 8 November, when the progress report on
Turkey's accession preparations is scheduled to be published.
"The Finnish proposal offers only partial lifting of Northern Cyprus'
isolation," said Talat. "Opening of direct trade between Turkey, and
the Greek and Turkish parts of Cyprus does not entirely lift the
isolation," he added. "There are other issues to be considered, such
as the status of Ercan airport, which is not included in the Finnish
proposal," stressed Talat Northern Cyprus has direct air links only
with Turkey, where all planes from Europe must first touch down . "We
will insist that the Finnish Presidency include such issues as Ercan
airport in its package, which we expect to be presented to us soon,"
he added. To date, Finland has not submitted any written document for
negotiations.
Asked about the EU's role in bringing about a solution to the Cyprus
problem, Talat stressed that "Brussels cannot solve the problem,
since the Greek part of Cyprus is its member". He remarked, however,
that "the EU can play a very important role in the talks". Talat made
it clear that any agreement reached on the basis of a Finnish
proposal is just a "partial solution, which can prevent the train
crash' but cannot entirely solve the Cyprus problem".
On the same day, Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said at the
Konrad Adenauer Stiftung in Brussels that "the Turkish train crash'
can be avoided if Ankara steps up reforms and the deal based on the
Finnish proposal is struck". Asked if an agreement can be reached
before 8 November, Rehn stressed that "there is real hope that the
parties will find the solution by that day". The potential lack of
agreement, in his opinion, would lead to the "freezing of relations".
Commenting on the Paris-Ankara row over the Armenian genocide, Rehn
underlined that the "ultimatum strategy is not a good one". On 12
October, the French parliament is scheduled to debate a bill, which
calls for five years in jail to anyone who denies the alleged
genocide of Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire at the turn
of the 20th century.
October 12, 2006
EU/TURKEY : TALAT: FINNISH PROPOSAL ON CYPRUS IS NOT COMPREHENSIVE
"We try to be constructive on the Finnish Presidency's proposal.
However, Northern Cyprus is still very much committed to the Annan
plan, which is more comprehensive," said Turkish Cypriot leader
Mehmet Ali Talat on 10 October in Brussels.
The Finnish EU Presidency has recently launched a new diplomatic
drive to reach an agreement on the Cyprus problem before the end of
the year (see Europolitics 3162). The proposal, which is being
negotiated, is being kept secret by Finland. Its aim is to strike a
deal between Turkey and the Turkish and Greek communities of Cyprus
on lifting the isolation of the northern part of the island, which is
a precondition for Turkey to recognise Greek Cyprus. If an agreement
is not achieved in the coming weeks and Ankara does not recognise
Greek Cyprus by the end of 2006, accession negotiations might be
partly or entirely suspended. The Commission is expected to prepare
its position on this issue by 8 November, when the progress report on
Turkey's accession preparations is scheduled to be published.
"The Finnish proposal offers only partial lifting of Northern Cyprus'
isolation," said Talat. "Opening of direct trade between Turkey, and
the Greek and Turkish parts of Cyprus does not entirely lift the
isolation," he added. "There are other issues to be considered, such
as the status of Ercan airport, which is not included in the Finnish
proposal," stressed Talat Northern Cyprus has direct air links only
with Turkey, where all planes from Europe must first touch down . "We
will insist that the Finnish Presidency include such issues as Ercan
airport in its package, which we expect to be presented to us soon,"
he added. To date, Finland has not submitted any written document for
negotiations.
Asked about the EU's role in bringing about a solution to the Cyprus
problem, Talat stressed that "Brussels cannot solve the problem,
since the Greek part of Cyprus is its member". He remarked, however,
that "the EU can play a very important role in the talks". Talat made
it clear that any agreement reached on the basis of a Finnish
proposal is just a "partial solution, which can prevent the train
crash' but cannot entirely solve the Cyprus problem".
On the same day, Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said at the
Konrad Adenauer Stiftung in Brussels that "the Turkish train crash'
can be avoided if Ankara steps up reforms and the deal based on the
Finnish proposal is struck". Asked if an agreement can be reached
before 8 November, Rehn stressed that "there is real hope that the
parties will find the solution by that day". The potential lack of
agreement, in his opinion, would lead to the "freezing of relations".
Commenting on the Paris-Ankara row over the Armenian genocide, Rehn
underlined that the "ultimatum strategy is not a good one". On 12
October, the French parliament is scheduled to debate a bill, which
calls for five years in jail to anyone who denies the alleged
genocide of Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire at the turn
of the 20th century.