Tense words as EU summit looms

THE CYPRUS government appears to be keeping all options open regarding next week’s key evaluation of Turkey’s obligations to the EU, despite increasingly clear messages that the EU is not prepared to stir the waters.
Yesterday President Demetris Christofias when asked whether Cyprus still had the right to freeze EU–Turkey negotiation chapters, said: “We have all the rights which every member state has”.
He was commenting on statements made during a talk given to the European Policy Centre, Turkish Minister of State and EU Chief Negotiator, Egemen Bagis warned that any additional sanctions against Turkey would hinder the continuation of talks on the island’s future.
“It is difficult for us to explain to our citizens why Cyprus became an EU member without solving the Cyprus problem, while Turkey remains outside the union because of the same problem,” he said.
Bagis noted that “already many sanctions have been imposed on Turkey, eight negotiation chapters can’t be opened while no chapter can be closed because of Cyprus,” adding, “Any additional sanctions would hinder the continuation of the talks.”
The Turkish official said he had confidence in the wisdom of European leaders and was not worried about the Council imposing further sanctions on Turkey next week for failure to meet its EU obligations, mainly opening its ports and airports to Cyprus and normalising relations with the Republic.
Speaking earlier to the Turkish state broadcaster from Stockholm, Bagis highlighted that lifting the so-called isolation of the north would pave the way for Turkey to open its ports to Greek Cypriot traffic as it had done pre-1987, without this implying recognition of the Republic of Cyprus.
Christofias yesterday said Bagis’ statements were indicative of Turkey’s unchanging policy.
However Cyprus is looking increasingly isolated in its efforts to push Turkey into a corner at the European Council summit next Thursday and Friday.
Christofias said the government was coordinating its efforts with the Greek government, ahead of the EU Council summit.
However, reports yesterday suggested the Greeks were in no mood to turn the screws on Turkey and impose sanctions. The upbeat climate following Greek Prime Minister Georgios Papandreou’s meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Athens on Wednesday added weight to those reports.
Davutoglu described the meeting as “very fruitful” while Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Demetris Droutsas said the two countries sought to increase bilateral cooperation at a regional and international level to pass on a “message of peace”. 
“We agreed on cooperation between the two countries towards mutual benefit, and for the benefit of all of south-eastern Europe (including Cyprus). We are sending the message that Greece and Turkey can work together. It’s a message of peace,” he was quoted saying. 
Politis yesterday cited diplomatic sources saying at best, Athens would help improve certain paragraphs in the draft council conclusions drawn up by the Swedish Presidency but would not push for sanctions. It may also support a possible unilateral declaration by Christofias on suspending sanctions for a period of time period.
The second draft report doing the rounds reportedly contains improved paragraphs on Turkey’s obligations towards Cyprus but still does not include any mention of further penalties on the candidate country.
Christofias will convene the National Council today to discuss upcoming summit, all within a tense climate where most political parties, bar DISY, are talking up the prospect of imposing stiff penalties on Turkey, in the hope of extracting Turkish concessions in the talks.