Summit hard on Turkey in Europe
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BRUSSELS - Turkish diplomats had a rough time in Brussels during a foreign ministers meeting this week, with European Union President France refusing to call the process "accession" talks, which would imply the possibility of full EU membership for Turkey, as well as its harsh criticism of Turkey’s relations with Cyprus and the slow pace of its reforms.
French opposition to full Turkish membership in the European Union was once again carved into an official document, as the final declaration of the summit of heads of states, which started yesterday, made no reference to "accession" as the final aim of the talks.
While Turkey has been enjoying a long holiday, Turkish diplomats in Brussels have had a tough time ahead of the summit. Due to the determination of the French presidency of the EU not to discuss enlargement issues during the summit, the conclusions concerning Turkey were sealed at the meeting of foreign ministers Monday.
The declaration, to be officially adopted today, reflects the unpleasant nature of relations between Ankara and Brussels, as well as the ongoing objection by France to the word "accession," which implies membership to the EU.
France critical of Turkey
France not only avoided labeling Turkey’s process "accession negotiations" but also used the term "Intergovernmental conference" instead of "accession conference," to describe the event to be held next week to open two new negotiation chapters.
Admitting that the insistence to omit the word "accession" is the reflection of their President Nicholas Sarkozy’s well-known position against Turkey, French sources said hopes for a different text during the French presidency would only be unrealistic.
Although the French position is nothing new, a strong warning for Ankara to refrain from threatening Greece and Cyprus in disputed seas has added to problems. Turkey’s obstruction to the oil prospects of Greek Cyprus in the Mediterranean found a considerable place in the EU’s declaration. The wording conveyed a European perception of Turkish naval activities as a source of threat to its neighbors.
Ports must be opened
"Turkey needs to commit unequivocally to good neighborly relations and to the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the United Nations Charter, having recourse, if necessary, to the International Court of Justice. The Union urges the avoidance of any kind of threat, source of friction or action which could damage good, neighborly relations and the peaceful settlement of disputes," the declaration read.
The Council also recalled its expectations of Turkey to open ports and airports to Greek Cypriot vessels and added that "progress is now urgently awaited." The European Union, which suspended negotiation in eight chapters December 2006 due to Turkey’s refusal to open its ports, will review the progress on the issue November 2009, which marks a new consequential deadline for Ankara.
Disappointed by the harsh EU reaction in the document, Ankara argued Brussels should acknowledge that Greek Cypriots tried to undermine the ongoing peace talks on the island by undertaking unilateral activities, ignoring the rights of Turkish Cypriots.
Meanwhile, French sources claimed that they saved the opening of two new chapters with Turkey by penning a declaration favorable to Greek Cyprus. During the technical preparations for the chapter on free movement of capital, Ankara included an agreement signed with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, or TRNC, in the negotiation framework document sent to Brussels.
Since Greek Cypriots were outraged with the use of the term TRNC, which implies an independent state for Turkish Cypriots, they threatened to veto the opening of the chapter. France, not wishing to fail in its promises to open two chapters with Turkey before it hands the presidency to the Czech Republic, intervened with a formula to remove the agreement from the real document and annex it as a cover letter. According to French sources this incident was an example of Turkey not handling technical negotiations well.
Slow pace of reforms
"Despite our efforts for a fair attitude towards Turkey during our EU presidency and our support for Turkey’s temporary seat at the United Nations Security Council, all we get is nothing but complaints," a French diplomat said, on the condition of anonymity. France wants Turkish permission for the participation in military procurements and also the Nabucco pipeline project.
Ankara excluded Paris from all big-scale tenders after a lower house of the French Parliament adopted a bill making it a crime to deny Armenian genocide allegations in 2006. The European Union also noted with regret that Turkey was making very limited progress on political reform.
"The Council is disappointed to note that over the year just passed Turkey has made only limited progress, particularly in regards to political reforms," read the summit declaration. Asking Turkey to redouble its efforts to implement the measures so long awaited, the European Union underlined that more needs to be done to reform the judiciary, fight corruption and torture, guarantee freedom of expression and religion, and protect minority rights.
Meanwhile, EU heads condemned all terrorist attacks and violence in Turkish territory in the strongest terms and expressed full solidarity with the people of Turkey. However, they also reiterated expectations that Turkey must conduct its fight against terrorism with due regard for human rights, fundamental freedoms and international law, while preserving regional peace and stability.