2ND EU in uphill struggle to heal rift over Turkey By Shada Islam and Daniela Schroeder

New to Raw Story? Click here to visit our home page for the latest news.

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Monday December 11, 2006

By Shada Islam and Daniela Schroeder, Brussels- European Union foreign ministers Monday were struggling to heal deep divisions over demands for a partial freeze in Turkey's bid to join the 25-nation bloc but the rift was expected to dominate a summit of EU leaders in Brussels later this week. Diplomats said Finland as current EU president was trying to thrash out a "balanced compromise" uniting the views of the bloc's hardliners and those demanding a softer response to Turkey's ban on Greek Cypriot traffic.

But the deadlock was unlikely to be broken before the EU's December 14-15 summit, they said.

EU heavyweights France and Germany are backing a European Commission proposal for a partial suspension of negotiations with Turkey in eight out of 35 negotiating chapters.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy told reporters the commission - the EU's executive arm - had come up with a "balanced" stance.

Commission proposals would not lead to a rupture in the talks with Turkey but send a clear signal that Ankara had to respect its obligation not to discriminate against Cyprus, said Douste-Blazy.

However, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told reporters that EU discord over Turkey could only be bridged at the bloc's summit.

"The positions of some member states still differ widely," Steinmeier cautioned. The EU was not planning to break off accession talks with Turkey, he added.

"Turkey's rapprochement towards Europe, the integration of Turkey in the system of European values is a project of outstanding importance," Steinmeier said.

"We should not destroy something that has grown over a long period in just a couple of days," he added.

Turkey does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004 as a divided island. As such Ankara does not currently allow Greek Cypriot traffic access to Turkish harbours and airports.

Despite tough day-long talks, commission calls for a partial suspension of Turkey's member talks have yet to win the unanimous approval of EU states.

Cyprus has accused the commission of being too soft on Ankara and says it wants a total suspension of negotiations. Other EU states, including the Netherlands and Austria - traditionally opposed to Turkish accession - have taken an equally tough line.

Ankara also has powerful allies in the EU. Stressing Turkey's strategic importance, Britain, Spain, Italy, Sweden and several EU newcomers including Estonia and Poland have called for less harsh action against Turkey.

Britain is insisting that only up to three negotiating chapters should be put on ice.

Pro-Turkey countries in the EU are also unhappy with other aspects of the commission's stance, including demands that once suspended, negotiations can only resume if all EU states vote for such a move.

Britain and others also oppose the commission's view that negotiations on areas which are not suspended can only be fully closed once Ankara complies with EU demands on Cyprus.

Disagreement persists on a so-called "review clause" which Greece and Cyprus insist must be included in any EU compromise. This would set an 18-month deadline for a new commission report on Turkey which would then be voted on by EU states.

Turkey offered last week to provisionally open a major sea port to Cypriot vessels for a year, pending the completion end-2007 of United Nations negotiations on the reunification of Cyprus.

Ankara also said it was willing to open one airport to Greek Cypriot traffic.

It added, however, that it "looks forward" to EU moves to end the economic isolation of Turkish Cyprus by allowing international trade with the north via the port of Famagusta and Ercan airport.

Nicosia denounced the initiative, saying it would constitute indirect recognition of the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state. EU governments also said Turkey must give its proposal in "written form."

Putting pressure on the EU, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul warned in an opinion piece published in the International Herald Tribune on Monday that any breakdown of negotiations would impact on Ankara's bold reform efforts.

The EU must not discourage Ankara's efforts to conform to "EU requirements and democratic standards."

Turkey, with a population of 70 million, would be the first Muslim country to join the Union. However, even if negotiations for EU entry do resume, Turkish admission is not expected before 2020.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency