Nicosia dismissive while EU wonders if Ankara’s latest offer comes with strings attached
ANKARA yesterday offered to open one Turkish port and airport to Cyprus, suggesting Greek Cypriots mirror the proposal for the north, but Nicosia called the offer a mockery.
In Brussels, EU members found the sudden move confusing. Without any clear statements from Ankara in the eight hours following first news of the proposal, interpretations swung from unconditional to conditional to unclear.
Even Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja seemed uncertain whether it came with strings attached. “Turkey doesn’t want to use the word conditions, but they are expecting that the EU will follow with some sort of move,” he told reporters in the Finnish parliament. “This is a step forward but not fully meeting the Ankara criteria.”
He described Turkey’s offer as “not yet” sufficient to end the stalemate over its refusal to open its ports to EU member Cyprus as required under the customs union protocol.
Facing a possible partial freeze of its accession course during next week’s EU Foreign Minister’s meeting for its failure to comply, Turkey’s last-minute proposal appeared designed to avoid a “train crash” with the bloc. Deliberations had already begun in Brussels on how Turkey’s application would proceed.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn told Finnish YLE television: “If Turkey’s suggestion of opening one port has been made unconditionally, it is a very important step towards Turkey implementing the Ankara Protocol.
“In my view that should be positively reflected in the discussion at Monday’s (EU foreign ministers’) meeting,” he said.
But Ankara’s proposal was dismissed by both President Tassos Papadopoulos in China and by Foreign Minister George Lillikas who described it as clearly conditional.
“The move made today by Turkey is an act designed to impress, and we have been expecting it. It constitutes a mockery of the European Union, since it lacks serious content,” said Lillikas.
Papadopoulos said it was “nothing new”.
“We do not believe that Cyprus must give anything in exchange to Turkey so that Turkey will fulfil its obligations towards Europe,” he said.
By late last night more details of the Turkish proposal had emerged. Its suggestions would be put in force for a provisional 12-month period.
It said Turkey remained committed to the implementation of the protocol and would proceed with the opening of a major seaport to Greek Cypriot vessels. It added however this would be only for the transportation of Greek Cypriot goods within the context of customs union.
Lillikas said this would exclude Cypriot vessels from EU transit trade.
In its proposal Ankara said it was committed to a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus under UN auspices. In this context, Turkey would also be prepared to open an airport to Greek Cypriot commercial flights.
And although the proposal does not mention conditions, it suggests that Turkish Cypriots were looking forward the full implementation of the EU’s 2004 promises to lift their isolation.
“In this context, the Port of Famagusta would be used for the purpose of direct trade under the EU Direct Trade Regulation of July 7, 2004,” the Turkish proposal said, adding that the Tymbou (Ercan) Airport would also be opened to direct international flights.
“All of the foregoing would be implemented provisionally for a period of one year, and will not prejudge the outcome of the negotiations for a comprehensive settlement under the UN, to be reached by the end of 2007,” the Turkish proposal said.
According to Reuters, suspicious diplomats asked to see the Turkish offer in writing while the EU was pressing for “clarifications.”
“If that move can be confirmed I think it is certainly an important step towards full implementation of the Ankara protocol, and against that background I certainly welcome it,” European Commission President Jose Barroso said.
But Lillikas in a lengthy written statement said Turkey was merely giving more “promises with conditions” to the EU.
“Even with this latest promise to partially meet her obligations, Turkey is asking for trade-offs which are of greater importance,” he said. “For the opening of one Turkish port to Cypriot vessels she demands the opening of the occupied port of Famagusta, while for the opening of one airport to Cypriot airplanes she demands the legalisation of the illegal Tymbou airport. We expect that the Presidency and the European Commission will reiterate and insist…that Turkey’s obligations are separate and bear no relation to other issues.”
Lillikas said Turkey must be evaluated based on what it has done and not on what it promises to do. “Right now Turkey is called to answer why she hasn’t fulfilled her promises, and a new promise on her part cannot constitute a satisfactory reply,” he said.
In the north, Turkish Cypriot spokesman Hasan Ercakica said: “We do not expect Turkey to take any steps to open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriots before steps are taken to end the isolation of TRNC.
