TURKEY’S declaration that it does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus, made after signing the EU customs union protocol, has no legal validity, President Tassos Papadopoulos said yesterday.
Late on Friday, Ankara signed the protocol, which extends Turkey’s customs union agreement with the 10 new member states, including Cyprus, as a prerequisite to the beginning of accession talks on October 3.
But in a separate declaration, Ankara said the signing of the protocol did not mean recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, and that Turkey would not recognise Cyprus until there was a comprehensive settlement on the island.
It said its signature “neither amounts to any form of recognition of the Republic of Cyprus referred to in the protocol, nor prejudices Turkey’s rights and obligations emanating from the Treaty of Guarantee, the Treaty of Alliance, and the Treaty of Establishment of 1960.”
But Papadopoulos, while expressing disappointment with the stance taken by Turkey, which he called “disrespectful” to the EU and to its obligations to the bloc, said the declaration had no legal basis.
Papadopoulos also said he was also disappointed with the reaction of the British EU Presidency to Ankara’s move.
“We expected a stronger reaction,” Papadopoulos said, but added that a final decision on the issue would not be taken until the EU Council of Ministers meeting later this month.
The President said the EU would decide whether Turkey’s statement was contrary to the substance, the content and the effectiveness of the European Council decision, in December 2004, to open accession negotiations with Turkey in October this year. He said that during talks at the EU-Turkey working committee, Ankara had submitted seven documents, which were rejected.
The island’s political parties also condemned Turkey’s stance yesterday, and the government came in for some criticism for its soft response to the signing.
The Green party called for an immediate meeting of the National Council to decide on what action should be taken by Nicosia.
“The attitude of Turkey and its politicians after the signing of the protocol was just as provocative as the content of the protocol itself and needs to be answered,” party deputy George Perdikis said.
“We cannot wait for Europe to do anything about this. What is needed is one specific intervention by the Cyprus government.”
He said he was puzzled by the “tepid” response from the government although he clarified he was not necessarily referring to vetoing Turkey’s accession course.
“Turkey is behaving in a provocative way and it is unfortunately taking heed of no one and if this is its philosophy and psychology, it really deserves to collect a veto on October 3.”
EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou said Ankara’s move was an extremely negative development and called on the government not to accept this “slap in the face”.
He said the message to the EU was clear: that it should safeguard international and community law, and that the Cyprus government should send a strong message to the EU regarding Turkey’s accession course.
Opposition DISY it expressed “sadness and disappointment” over Ankara’s attitude. “Unfortunately the Turkish government remains attached to anachronistic perceptions and practices,” the party said.
Similar statements were made by United Democrats leader George Vassiliou yesterday, but he said the government also had a huge responsibility to get the ball moving on resolving the Cyprus issue before the situation became even worse.
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