www.talkcyprus.org

[cannedmoose]

IN THE RUN-UP to last December 17’s European Council, expected to give Turkey a date for the start of accession negotiations, several political parties in Cyprus urged President Papadopoulos to exercise his veto right, if Ankara refused to recognise the Republic.

Populist politicians from the hard-line parties, which trade in patriotic platitudes, insisted that Papadopoulos should veto the start of accession talks – they even organised a political rally to put pressure on him – as a matter of national pride. The president kept his cards close to his chest, but it was clear that he would ignore the pressure from his alliance partners and supporters. “Vetoes are for big countries,” he had said.

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=21355&archive=1

[brother]

Tassos as much as i do not like him is not a stupid man that would veto and effectively kill all chances of some concessions from Turkey but the French stance at the moment is very deplorable.

[Crash Test Dummy]

the quicker Turkey joins the rest of the world the better the chance of justice in cyprus.

[erolz]

Giorgio wrote: the quicker Turkey joins the rest of the world the better the chance of justice in cyprus.

What do you mean by Turkey joining the rest of the world? They have a seat on the UN, they are members of politicial and military 'unions' of states. To me they are already part of the 'rest of the world'? In what way do you think they are not?

[Crash Test Dummy]

what i am getting at here erol is that most countries are joining the EU or other 'trade groups' and the sooner Turkey can get in on one the better

[erolz]

Giorgio wrote: what i am getting at here erol is that most countries are joining the EU or other 'trade groups' and the sooner Turkey can get in on one the better

OK

For info

It's possible that you are not aware of the existing trade agremnts Turkey has?

http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/issues/bilateral/countries/turkey/index_en.htm

[cannedmoose]

Exactly, if it's a simple trading relationship Turkey wants, they already have it through the Turkey-EU customs union. Integration with the EU isn't so much an economic necessity these days, it's increasingly a political project where countries realise that they can achieve more through membership of a powerful political union than they can individually.

[gabs]

i think


really though i do think the biggest reward to europe for turkish membership is the one tony blair pointed to, being the message it sends out to other developing muslim and asian/african countries -

ie no international bar on religious or ethnic background.

[brother]

I agree with gabs but lets all agree that just the prospect of EU membership has helped Turkey big time and will continue too for the forseable future until/if she gets veto or suspends talks imo.

[Alexandros Lordos]

brother wrote: Tassos as much as i do not like him is not a stupid man that would veto and effectively kill all chances of some concessions from Turkey but the French stance at the moment is very deplorable.

France is obviously using the "recognition of Cyprus" issue as a pretext, in order to block Turkish accession. When did France show real concern over what happens to Cyprus?

By the way, there is talk of a compromise agreement, by which Turkey will be obliged to recognize Cyprus by the time her accession negotiations conclude - in 2008. Such a development would create an interesting window of opportunity for a Comprehensive Settlement before that date.

[erolz]

Alexandros Lordos wrote: By the way, there is talk of a compromise agreement, by which Turkey will be obliged to recognize Cyprus by the time her accession negotiations conclude - in 2008. Such a development would create an interesting window of opportunity for a Comprehensive Settlement before that date.

Or a possible 'strategy' from the Republic of Cyprus that they just have to block all efforts at reunification until then, and then Turkey will HAVE to recognize the Republic of Cyprus (as it exists today with Greek Cypriot only admin) as the sole legitimate government of all of Cyprus, Turkey will HAVE to remove all troops and the Republic of Cyprus state can enforce it's existing laws re Greek Cypriot property lost?

The above is a question really. Whilst I can see that pre fixed required recognition date for T accession to EU might help drive a settlement I can also see a possibility that it might block the same :(

[Crash Test Dummy]

what is turkey's reason behind not recognising the Republic of Cyprus?

[erolz]

Giorgio wrote: what is turkey's reason behind not recognising the Republic of Cyprus?

Turkeys and Turkish Cypriot position is that since 63 the all Greek Cypriot administration of Cyprus is not a legitimate government of all of cyprus and all cypriots. This is based on the fact that the Republic of Cyprus Constitution is based on the notion of two partner communities with a degree of political equality as communities. For T and Turkish Cypriot the Republic of Cyprus as it exists today (and existed since 63) is a government of the Greek Cypriot community and not the whole of Cyprus. That a Republic of Cyprus goverment without particiaption of the Turkish Cypriot community is invalid as the governement of all of Cyprus.

[Crash Test Dummy]

cheers. does turkey not realise that the reason the current governmnet does not represent the entire island is becaus eof their illegal occupation? i can see their point but it makes no real sense.


sorry to go off subject but should turkey not leave cyprus. they invaded to protect the Turkish Cypriot's from danger but surley the danger has passed.

[erolz]

Giorgio wrote: cheers. does turkey not realise that the reason the current governmnet does not represent the entire island is becaus eof their illegal occupation? i can see their point but it makes no real sense.

If you imagine the situation in 64 or 68 or 72 then it makes more sense. There was no occupation by Turkish troops then , yet a soley Greek Cypriot run administration controlled the 'Republic of Cyprus'. T and Turkish Cypriot refused to recognise the Republic of Cyprus (as the sole legitimate government of all of cyprus and all cypriots, it does recognise it as a legitimate government of Greek Cypriot in cyprus) in from 64 onwards, on the 'reasonable' basis that it was not a legitimate government of all of cyprus and all cypriots but of only one community in Cyprus.

Giorgio wrote:
sorry to go off subject but should turkey not leave cyprus. they invaded to protect the Turkish Cypriot's from danger but surley the danger has passed.

T invaded to 'restore the 1960 consistution' as per the treaty of guarantee. T position is that in 74 it was impossible to resotre things to 1960 aragments and that a new agreement must be made. Once that is done they will leave. They (and the rest of us) are still waiting. That is the T / Turkish Cypriot perspective.