Affiliated with the University of Nicosia |
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PERSPECTIVES ON THE TRIANGLE EU - TURKEY AND CYPRUS: THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS By Andreas Theophanous
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Professor of Political
Economy, University of Nicosia Director of the Cyprus Center for European and International Affairs |
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On October 14, 2009 the European Commission’s
Progress Report on Turkey described the poor record of the country in
relation to several issues including Cyprus but did not make any
recommendations for sanctions.
It was therefore no surprise that two months later on 11 December
2009 the European Council noted the existence of the problem but did not
proceed with sanctions.
Inevitably the perceived geostrategic importance of Turkey allows Ankara
to pursue its own policies and to fulfil any requirements in an
a la carte manner.
The fact is that since Turkey was declared a candidate country
for membership in the EU in December 1999 it continues to pursue its
European ambitions despite frequent turbulences and its serious
shortcomings and deficits.
Turkey has never really been penalized; it has been encouraged to
proceed under its own unique circumstances which are often distant if
not outside the European context and its norms.
Thus it was no surprise that two days after the meeting of the European
Council in December 2009 the Supreme Court of Turkey decided to close
down the Democratic Social Party,
the country’s biggest Kurdish party; this led to days of unrest in the
south-eastern provinces. It
is also noted that it is no coincidence that the Supreme Court announced
its decision after the meeting of the European Council.
More
recently, and in relation to Cyprus, the proposals of the Turkish
Cypriot side regarding issues of Governance (as approved/formulated by
Ankara) confirmed the view that the Turkish policy remains unaltered: it
aims at consolidating and legitimatizing the strategic control of Turkey
on Cyprus. It should be
stressed that these proposals are similar to the Bosnian model, the
model which is under the threat of collapse.
To add insult to injury the Turkish-Cypriot proposals also
include the demand that the citizens of Turkey should have the right to
settle, acquire property and move freely throughout Cyprus.
Given that already Anatolian settlers outnumber the Turkish
Cypriots in the occupied northern part of Cyprus, what does this
specific proposal aim at?
For several observers this proposal on its own is indicative of Turkey’s
designs to alter the demographic character of Cyprus.
There are at least two serious
issues that are raised:
(a)
it seems that the process of the bicommunal
negotiations pursued so far to resolve the Cyprus problem is inadequate
and is disintegrating;
(b)
there is little doubt that Turkey proceeds with
policies irrespective of whether they are in line with its European
obligations or the European value system.
On
the first it should be acknowledged that the problem does not only
consist of the bicommunal dimension.
Indeed, the major issue is that Turkey, a candidate country, does
not recognize the right of a member state, the Republic of Cyprus, to
exist. Can the EU continue
to proceed with «business
as usual»
with Turkey? One would
expect that the EU should at last exhibit solidarity to a member state.
Repeatedly Turkish officials have stated that the EU should make
its mind about what is most important: choosing to deal with 70 million
Turks or with less than 1 million Greek Cypriots.
Furthermore, Turkish officials also state that Turkey will not
give up Cyprus in return for its own accession to the EU.
What are the messages conveyed to the EU?
And how does the EU respond?
Should Cyprus succumb to Turkey?
On the second, undoubtedly the EU cannot and
should not discriminate against any country.
By the same token it would be a serious mistake for the EU to
consistently ignore violations by any candidate country and proceed with
the accession negotiations as if nothing is happening.
At the end such an approach will set a dangerous precedent and
undermine the credibility of the EU at a time when the Union has to
enhance it.
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Cyprus Center for European and
International Affairs Copyright © 2010. All rights reserved
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