Declaration of the European Union and its member states.

[Kifeas]

This is the entire final text of the EU counter declaration to the unilateral declaration by Turkey for the non-recognition of the republic of Cyprus.

(please note this is a re-translation from the Greek version and therefore there might be some slight wording differences between my translation and the original English text.)

Declaration of the European Union and its member states.

1. The EU and the member states acknowledge the signing by Turkey of the supplemental protocol of the association agreement between the Union and the member states on the one part and Turkey on the other, according to the Conclusions of the European council in December 2004. They express their disappointment that Turkey considered it necessary to proceed to a declaration with regards to the Republic of Cyprus at the very moment of the signing.

2. The EU and the member states make it clear that this declaration by Turkey is Unilateral, doesn’t constitute part of the protocol and doesn’t have any legal implications to Turkey’s obligations in relation to the protocol.

3. The EU and the member states expect full and non-discriminatory implementation of the supplemental protocol and the lifting of all the obstacles to the free movement of goods, including the barriers on transportation means. Turkey owes to fully implement the protocol with all the member states, The EU will monitor this step by step and will evaluate the full implementation in 2006. The Union and the member states emphasize that the opening of negotiations of the relating chapters depends on the implementation on behalf of Turkey of all its contractual obligations towards all the member states. The non-full implementation of these obligations will affect the whole progress of the accession negations.

4. The EU and the member states remind that the Republic of Cyprus has become a member state of the EU as of the 1st of May 2004. They also underline that they recognize the Republic of Cyprus only, as a subject of international law.

5. Recognition of all the member states is an essential ingredient of the accession process. Therefore, the EU underlines the importance that is attributed to the harmonization of relations between Turkey and all the member states, the soonest possible.

6. The EU council will undertake the examination in 2006, of the progress that will be achieved in all of these issues.

7. Within the context of this declaration, the EU and the member states agree to the importance of supporting the efforts of the UN SG to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, according to the relevant UN SC resolutions and the principles on which the EU is founded, towards a just and lasting settlement which will contribute to peace, stability and the harmonious relations in the region.

[gabs]

seems like a general agreement has been reached on this.

http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2005/09/21/afx2235611.html


i wonder what arm twisting has gone on behind closed doors, and by whom?

[brother]

[gabs]

Bro ive copied and pasted it ...................


AFX News Limited
EU strikes accord in principle on Turkey membership standoff UPDATE
09.21.2005, 07:26 AM

(Updates with quote from EU presidency official, background in graphs 5/6)

BRUSSELS (AFX) - European Union ambassadors reached an agreement in principle on Wednesday on two key issues that have threatened to block the start of EU entry talks with Turkey next month, diplomats said.

The accord, which is expected to be approved formally later in the day, covers both a declaration on Turkey's refusal to recognize Cyprus, and the negotiating framework for talks due to start on Oct 3.

The ambassadors have 'agreed the declaration this morning and it will be adopted by written procedure,' said a British EU presidency official.

The official said: 'Several key delegations have lifted all their reserves on the negotiating framework,' adding: 'The negotiating framework is being discussed.'

An attempt formally to approve the declaration failed yesterday because of objections by Cyprus.

Key EU states, including notably Austria, have been pushing for Turkey to be offered an alternative to full EU membership.

EU leaders agreed last December to start membership talks with Turkey, despite its refusal to recognize the government of Cyprus, which joined the EU last May.

Tensions mounted in July when, while signing a protocol extending a customs accord with the EU to the bloc's 10 newest states, Turkey declared this did not amount to a recognition of Cyprus.

The island of Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded the northern part to protect the Turkish Cypriot population following a pro-Greek coup.

abd-mt/lt/rl/jfr/jsa



COPYRIGHT



Copyright AFX News Limited 2005. All rights reserved.

[gabs]

Also this one from Bloomgerg





Cyprus Approves EU-Turkey Text, Aiding Oct. 3 Entry Talks Plan
Sept. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Cyprus endorsed a European Union declaration on political and trade links with Turkey, ending a veto threat and boosting the EU's plans to start Turkish membership talks on Oct. 3.

The EU's 25 nations including Cyprus today approved a common response to Turkey's diplomatic boycott of the Greek-speaking island republic. A month-long dispute over the text sidetracked the EU, delaying a negotiating plan for Turkey that needs the backing of all member nations.

``Recognition of all member states is a necessary component of the accession process,'' the EU said in the statement released in Brussels. ``The EU underlines the importance it attaches to the normalization of relations between Turkey and all EU member states, as soon as possible.''

The Turkish government in July said its signature of a protocol extending a European trade accord to Cyprus did not mean that Ankara was recognizing the Cypriot republic. Signing the protocol was a condition the EU set in December for starting decade-long membership talks.

The EU declaration urges Turkey to ensure free trade with Cyprus. The bloc will review progress on this and the non- recognition issue in 2006, the statement says. Turkey has occupied the northern tier of Cyprus since a 1974 invasion following a pro-Greek coup.

Turkish Recognition

The statement says Turkey must recognize Cyprus to win entry and in the meantime must remove ``all obstacles to the free movement of goods'' including a ban on Cypriot ships unloading goods in Turkish ports and Cypriot planes landing at Turkish airports.

Cyprus joined the EU without the Turkish-speaking north because voters in the Greek-speaking southern republic rejected a United Nations-backed unification plan. The Turkish-speaking community backed the plan, prompting Ankara to blame Cyprus for the island's continuing division.

The declaration released today says EU member states support UN efforts to reach a ``comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.''

Today's accord follows four failed attempts this month to agree on the wording of the declaration. EU diplomats on Sept. 19 broke the deadlock and the Cypriot government today withdrew a last-minute veto threat that would have prevented approval by EU governments.

The dispute interfered with EU preparations for entry negotiations with Turkey. European governments still must approve a plan covering 35 areas from customs to energy and fisheries where Turkey would have to meet the bloc's regulatory standards.

Turkey, a nation of 72 million people, is counting on the accession talks to attract record foreign investment to its $300 billion economy. It would be one of the two most populous EU nations along with Germany, and would become the bloc's first mainly Muslim member, widening the EU's borders to Iraq.

Negotiating Plan

This prospect has some politicians in nations including France and Germany urging nothing more than a ``privileged partnership.'' The demand may complicate approval of the negotiating plan.

Olli Rehn, the EU's enlargement commissioner, said national governments would have dozens of veto chances later and entry negotiations would encourage a settlement of the Cyprus problem as well as economic reforms in Turkey.

The declaration touches on the future obstacles Turkey may face, saying progress in membership talks would depend on Turkey's respect for the trade pact. Under EU accession rules, each member state has the right to prevent the start and completion of negotiations on the specific subjects, or ``chapters.''

``The opening of negotiations on the relevant chapters depends on Turkey's implementation of its contractual obligations to all member states,'' the statement says. ``Failure to implement its obligations in full will affect the overall progress in the negotiations.''



To contact the reporter on this story:
Jonathan Stearns in Brussels at jstearns2@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: September 21, 2005 09:40 EDT

[brother]

Thanks Gabs, an interesting article but i still find it strange that tassos is concentrating on getting recognition rather than solution with talat.

[gabs]

well maybe he sees Turkish recognition as the solution.

[brother]

[erolz]

[gabs]

ok

so may i ask both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots.

will or even can Greek Cypriot ever relent from their quest for total cypriot control, which has been their ambition for hundreds if not thousands of years.

this quest imo has now become part of Greek Cypriot history culture and heritage. how can it be abandoned?

[murtaza]

Nonsense, even with recognition will Turkish Cypriot bow to papa?

Think it again. That moron is making everything wrong.

He cannot use force to Turkish Cypriot, and Economicaly, I dont know how Turkish Cypriot can get worse situation than this.

[magikthrill]

[Birkibrisli]

I think you are being a bit hard on Papadopoulos.Think of it from his point of view. To accept the Annan P would have been to agree to the division of the island effectively.Politically it would have been suicide.
Politics,they say,is the art of achieving what is possible.IMO we need to go beyond politics if we are to solve the problem.
What if Turkey took the initiative tomorrow and declared that she would recognise the Republic of Cyprus of the 1960 constitution. That is the one which included the Turkish Cypriots and gave them 70/30 rights.What if she said "I will pull out my troops if Papadopoulos agreed to take Talat as his vice President and 23 elected Turkish Cypriot members in Parliament?" Will the world come to an end? Will the Greek Cypriots start planning the total extermination of all Turkish Cypriots as soon as practicable,under EU supervision? Will we not be able to work out a peaceful life with our compatriots for the good of Cyprus?The EU and Turkey and Papadopoulos and Talat and Greece are playing politics with our futures at stake as Cypriots.Politics and nationalism are what brought us to where we are today.If we don't have the courage to abandon politics and nationalism we will all lose,Cyprus will lose at the end.The answer lies in all Turkish Cypriots and all Greek Cypriots realising that unless they trust and respect each other as human beings we will be the losers,not Turkey not Greece and certainly not the EU.Self determination means just that,us determining out own futures.Hanging onto the tails of our Mamma or Pappa will not bring a solution,standing on our own two feet will.The question is,do we have the guts,do we deserve to be the masters of our own fate???

[erolz]

[-mikkie2-]