By Jean Christou
THE EUROPEAN Parliament has urged Turkey to contribute actively to finding a political solution to the Cyprus issue through accepting and implementing relevant UN resolutions, independently of EU accession negotiations.
In a resolution passed in Strasbourg, the Parliament said that Turkey’s membership of the EU would be an important contribution to the future development of the EU and to peace and security in Europe.
But the resolution emphasises that Turkish efforts to meet the political and economic criteria for membership should be considered as important first steps “and that Turkey is still far away” from meeting the criteria.
The resolution was adopted by 251 votes in favour and 187 against with 84 abstentions.
The Parliament rejected an amendment proposed by the Liberal group that the process of changes in Turkey would be greatly facilitated by a clear prospect of accession.
“The democratic deficits in Turkey have still not been eliminated, and there remains a need for lasting reform, notably with regard to the rule of law and respect for human and minority rights,” the resolution said.
Turkey is hopeful of being declared a candidate of the bloc at the EU summit in Helsinki in December. Ankara hinted to Washington that it would be prepared to allow a return to direct talks on the Cyprus issue if there was a favourable outcome from Helsinki.
This was a turnaround in the accepted idea that if Turkey showed goodwill on Cyprus first, the EU might consider its candidacy.
During discussions the European Popular Party said Ankara’s demand to be afforded candidacy status is untimely because it does not fulfil the criteria to allow membership talks to begin.
The EU Commissioner responsible for enlargement, Guenter Verheugen, said Turkey does not meet all the political criteria at present, but the EU should help Turkey to move in a steady and irreversible manner towards accession.
He said he would recommend that the European Council recognise Turkey as a candidate at the Helsinki summit.
The President of the Christian Democrats, Hans-Gert Poettering said he recognises Turkey’s right to claim candidate status but warned it was too early to move in that direction.
Wednesday’s resolution acknowledges the need for the EU itself to develop immediately suitable mechanisms to encourage Turkey to promote increasingly close relations between the EU and Turkey.
In Nicosia, government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said the resolution is significant because it sets out exactly what Turkey must do to secure its EU candidacy.
Commenting on statements earlier yesterday by the island’s EU chief negotiator George Vassiliou that no date has been set for Cyprus’ accession, Papapetrou said the government would prefer that a date be fixed.
“We want 2003 to be defined as our accession date,” he said.
Following a meeting with President Clerides yesterday morning, Vassiliou said no full membership date has been set for Cyprus.
He said the problem arose because of differences between EU member countries. Meanwhile Vassiliou leaves for Estonia today to meet his counterparts from the other five candidate countries.
