Erdoğan lashes out at EU: Open your eyes on Cyprus

A meeting with ambassadors of European Union member countries accredited to Ankara on Thursday offered Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan an opportunity to express his belief that the EU's tendency to become an isolated body is discouraging for both the European and the Turkish public.

Erdoğan hosted a luncheon for the EU ambassadors only a day after members of the European Parliament endorsed an annual report evaluating EU candidate Turkey's progress in 2009. The report made several calls on Turkey to contribute to ongoing reunification talks on the divided island of Cyprus, calls that were interpreted by Ankara as placing all the responsibility for the lack of a resolution to the decades-old Cyprus issue on the shoulders of Turkey. “Are the eyes of the European Parliament blind to the Cyprus issue within the framework of the ongoing negotiations in Cyprus? They should open their eyes.

The report they have released has created disappointment in Turkey,” Erdoğan said in a speech ahead of the luncheon.

“The European Parliament is acting like a spokesperson for the Greek Cypriot side,” Erdoğan said, echoing the harsh reaction outlined in a written statement released by the Foreign Ministry earlier on Thursday.

The report, penned by Dutch Christian Democrat Ria Oomen-Ruijten, calls on Turkey to hand over a Turkish Cypriot town to Greek Cypriots and to immediately begin the withdrawal of Turkish troops. The European Parliament “calls on the Turkish Government actively to support the ongoing negotiations, and to contribute in concrete terms to the comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue, based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation, in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the principles on which the EU is founded; calls on Turkey to facilitate a suitable climate for negotiations by immediately starting to withdraw its forces from Cyprus, by addressing the issue of the settlement of Turkish citizens on the island and also by enabling the return of the sealed-off section of Famagusta [Gazimağusa in Turkish] to its lawful inhabitants in compliance with Resolution 550(1984) of the United Nations Security Council.”
The Foreign Ministry described the report as “unilateral and not in compliance with facts,” while warning that its wording may have negative impacts on Turkey’s EU accession process.

“The fact that promises given to Turkey by the EU are not mentioned in the report, while expectations from Turkey are listed, is additionally thought provoking. In the report, ongoing comprehensive negotiations and the Turkish Cypriot side’s constructive efforts toward resolution are virtually disregarded, while facts concerning those who have responsibility in emergence of the Cyprus issue have been ignored,” the Foreign Ministry said.

“This approach, which is away from all kinds of feelings of justice, has, with the slightest expression, led to great disappointment. The European Parliament’s function should not be to act as a spokesperson for the Greek Cypriot side and meet all their groundless claims and demands. We feel sad over seeing that the European Parliament, in its first test concerning Turkey during the new legislation period, has fallen hostage to domestic policy motivations,” the ministry added, while, nonetheless, highlighting that Turkey will continue claiming its vested rights and proceed toward its goal of becoming an EU member despite certain circles’ negative manner and efforts to prevent Turkey from reaching its goal.

Turkey sent its troops to Cyprus in 1974 following attacks on Turkish Cypriots by Greek Cypriot groups favoring unification with Greece and eventually a Greek-inspired coup on the island.
Cyprus joined the EU as a divided island when Greek Cypriots in the south rejected a UN reunification plan while the Turkish Cypriots in the north overwhelmingly supported it in twin referendums in 2004. Turkey has called on the EU to fulfill its commitment to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots as a condition for opening its ports and airports to traffic from Greek Cyprus. The EU unveiled a plan to ease the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots by establishing direct trade with Turkish Cyprus after they voted for the UN plan to reunite the island, but it was never implemented.

Erdoğan, meanwhile, stated that continuing to debate Turkey’s “Europeanness” of Turkey is nothing but a waste of time, adding that it is high time for the EU to remember its pledges to Turkey.

“The European Union is demoralizing us by opening the pledges it made to us and signatures we signed to debate. The steps Turkey takes are the biggest guarantee for the EU. Our determination for EU accession should no longer be questioned. We will continue to do our part as we have done so far,” Erdoğan added. He also complained about the opposition’s stance regarding the government’s steps to pass reforms for eventual EU membership, adding that his government is continuing its way toward accession despite all obstacles posed by the opposition.

12.02.2010

News

TODAY’S ZAMAN

http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-201317-erdogan-lashes-out-at-eu-open-your-eyes-on-cyprus.html

Cem Özdemir, MEP: A coup d'état is not acceptable in a democracy

Turkey sends confusing signals to Europe
Friday, July 11, 2008

'It should be very clear that a coup d’etat is under no conditions acceptable in a democracy. That, however, does not mean that the activities of the government justify everything. It has to be based on the democratic rule of law and the constitution,' says Cem Özdemir

FULYA ÖZERKAN

ANKARA – Turkish Daily News

When looked at from outside, Turkey presents a blurred and confusing image, given the closure case filed against the ruling party and a series of arrests of retired commanders accused of plotting attacks to overthrow the government, according to the two German politicians, underlining that the problems must be resolved within the lines of democracy and rule of law.

“Looking from outside, my feeling is that a lot of Turkish diplomats and politicians have a hard time understanding and explaining what is really going on,” Cem Özdemir, Turkish-born member of the European Parliament, told the Turkish Daily News in an interview late Wednesday.

While referring to the extensive police operation against a shadowy group dubbed “Ergenekon,” Özdemir said that it was not a new issue for people who follow the debates in Turkey. “I remember the Susurluk debate. Şemdinli could be mentioned, too. I really hope that this finally leads to results, that people find out who did what in the past and who is involved in such kinds of things that are beyond democracy and that cannot be justified,” he said.

“And it should be very clear that a coup d'etat is under no conditions acceptable in a democracy. That, however, does not mean that the activities of the government justify everything. It has to be based on democratic rule of law and the constitution.”

Özdemir and Renate Künast, both of Germany's Greens, were in Ankara Wednesday for meetings with Turkish officials. Their visit comes at a time when Turkey's domestic agenda is overburdened with a number of challenging issues.

“What I understand is that there is an old state or old power fearing the EU accession process, and on the other side there are the people who want to go on the road for democracy, rule of law and checks and balances,” Künast, member of the German Bundestag, told the TDN.

‘Turkey will lose time'

On the lingering court cases against the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, and the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party, or DTP, she said this cannot be allowed in democracy.
“You have to hold discussions; you have to try to get the majority in Parliament to build government, but you are not allowed to close down a party… I am very sure that all member states of the European Union will ask and push Turkey to change the rules,” she said.

Asked about impacts of the AKP's closure on Turkey's EU journey, Künast said: “We, as the Greens, always say EU talks will not be suspended, but I am sure that the minimum the EU will ask you to do is to change the law to really go on the way of democracy and law.”

But she admitted that EU talks would slow down if the ruling party were banned by the court. “You will lose time. The EU is a democratic organization. We are not hitting anyone for wrong decisions but it will be much more difficult for Turkey to go on the way. You will lose a lot of time,” she said.

‘No charismatic politicians in Europe'

For his part, Özdemir said he was rather optimistic that despite all the difficulties, Turkey would eventually head toward Europe and modernization, but expressed concerns over the absence of charismatic leaders abroad that could push and encourage Ankara to remain on the EU track.

“‘Listen, you are our ally, we belong together, we trust you and we are behind you,' that should be the message. Neither Mrs. Merkel nor Mr. Sarkozy would be very convincing in this respect,” said Özdemir.

Commenting on the fate of Turkey's accession talks during the term presidency of France, whose leader is a vocal opponent of Turkish membership in the EU, Özdemir said: “Sarkozy and the ones in Turkey who are against democracy and reforms are playing giving-and-go. I am not sure if Sarkozy is aware of his new circle of friends. But Sarkozy notwithstanding, Turkey should start its engine again and move on with EU reforms.”

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