www.talkcyprus.org

[magikthrill]

Published: 8/20/2005
Source: http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=66359


ATHENS - Greece and Cyprus have reached a common position over Turkey's bid to join the European Union, the two governments announced Thursday.

However Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis said the details of the agreement would not be released until a meeting in Brussels with EU officials next Wednesday.

"We have reached a framework of common positions and we have coordinated our next actions," Caramanlis said.

Their meeting follows statements by the French government that the recognition of the Republic of Cyprus should be a condition for the opening of Turkey's EU membership negotiations, scheduled to start on October 3.

Papadopoulos said the two countries would use the framework of the EU negotiations with Turkey to "better promote a resolution" on the issue of Cyprus, whose northern third is occupied by Turkey.

Despite EU pressure, Ankara has refused to recognize Cyprus and said the signing of a customs protocol last month with the bloc, a key condition for the opening of accession talks, did not constitute formal recognition of the divided Mediterranean island.

Turkey has said its position towards the Greek Cypriot administration will remain unchanged until the conflict is resolved and the Turkish and Greek communities of the island are reunified.

[magikthrill]

Somehow I have a feeling this common policy might have something to do with what my friend told me a while back when interning for the Ministry of National Defense that it is not realizable for TUrkey to join the EU.

However im sure the Republic of Cyprus will milk this oppurtunity for all it can even though it will probably lead to nothing...

[brother]

Unfortunately i do not believe that Turkey will ever join the EU but the process will benefit her to realise some /all her potential and Republic of Cyprus is going to try and get what it can from her while the opportunities are there imo.

[Crash Test Dummy]

since when can two countries discuss EU issues in private before the offfical discussions? is this not like ganging up and taking sides

[erolz]

Giorgio wrote: since when can two countries discuss EU issues in private before the offfical discussions? is this not like ganging up and taking sides

Welcome to the EU :)

The EU has always had member states forming allinaces on certain issues and 'quid pro quo' horse trading between two or more states (I'll support you on issue x if you suppot me on issue y), this is the way that the EU works as I understand it.

[magikthrill]

erolz wrote: Giorgio wrote: since when can two countries discuss EU issues in private before the offfical discussions? is this not like ganging up and taking sides

Welcome to the EU :)

The EU has always had member states forming allinaces on certain issues and 'quid pro quo' horse trading between two or more states (I'll support you on issue x if you suppot me on issue y), this is the way that the EU works as I understand it.

Actually, that is how international diplomacy works in general. When I was Model UNited Nations in high school as Russia I made an agreement with Pakistan to veto a Kashmir resolution if they wouldnt vote for a Chechnya problem. I thought it was fun at first but I guess thats how things work out there.

[Constantinopolitis]

18th of August, 2005

Dear Mr Blair,

I am writing to share my concerns regarding Britain’s policy on Turkey’s EU integration.

Turkey’s EU accession process is moving along swiftly despite Turkey’s refusal to comply with a demand, set by the EU in 2004, which calls for the immediate and full recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, an existing member of the EU, before membership talks can begin. It would be absurd and incompatible with the unified ethos of the EU to have member states not recognise one another. The Erdogan claim that Turkey may recognise Cyprus only after a political settlement on the island has run its course. I would urge Britain to encourage Turkey to act immediately in accordance with this prerequisite.

Cyprus and its people have long remained divided due to the stationing of Turkish troops on the island, who continue to enforce an ethnic division within the Republic in utter violation of international law. It is most unfortunate that your government has conveniently forgotten the fact that it was the Turkish military that invaded Cyprus in 1974, systematically ethnically cleansed some 200 000 indigenous Cypriots, transplanted 120 000 Turkish colonists, brutally massacred 6000 and raped 1000 women aged between 12 and 78. Are more than 120 UN resolutions documenting and condemning the aggression, occupation, illegal colonisation and ethnic cleansing by Turkey insignificant? Respect for human rights, democracy and security is the minimum prerequisite for a solution to the Cyprus problem. It is not, as you seem to believe, a matter of reaching an accommodation with Turkey by making concessions in order to appease it. Turkey needs to comply with international law. Universal principles cannot be derogated to appease an aggressor. It would not only undermine the basis of western society and civilisation but it would also give the green light to every aggressor to act with impunity. Is your government so blinded by its desire to see Turkey become a member of the EU that they are prepared to brush aside fundamental principles? As the UK is now holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, I would encourage your government to bring your political stance on Cyprus inline with EU and International Law.

It has recently been reported that the UK has recommended Union member states open direct contact with the so-called “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”. Such a recommendation was said to have been made at the British Ambassador to Ankara, Peter Westmacott's meeting with EU ambassadors. Please recall that Britain does not recognise the so-called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" and was instrumental in securing UN Security Council Resolution 541 which considered its purported declaration of independence to be “legally invalid”. If indeed you are proposing a policy that contradicts International Law you have shown yourself unworthy of the institution you currently represent and I would call on you, once again, to stop making immoral attempts to legitimise the occupation of Cyprus.

Turkey refuses to recognise the Genocide perpetrated between 1894 and 1955 against its indigenous Christian inhabitants. If nations are allowed to commit Genocide with impunity, to hide their guilt in a camouflage of lies and denials, there is a real danger that other brutal regimes will be encouraged to attempt Genocides. The British government has failed to officially recognise these crimes against humanity, perpetrated against several million Armenians, Assyrians and Hellenes who fell prey to the Turkish establishment, as Genocide, therefore sacrificing justice and moral principles rather than risk offending a supposedly indispensable ally. To deny, distort and falsify history for mere political and economic gains is an abomination.

According to a European Commission assessment study, Turkish EU membership would cost European taxpayers annually between 16.5 and 27.5 billion Euros. Turkey's membership would cost 11 billion Euros a year in agricultural subsidies alone. What benefits would European tax payers, such as myself, gain from accommodating a nation from a neighbouring continent?

Politicians motivated by the assumed benefits of further EU enlargement have often suggested that a partnership between a Muslim Turkey and a Christian Europe will be good for humanity in general, and will be a blow to terrorist fanatics who wish to destroy civilisation as we know it. Do you honestly believe that Turkey’s accession into the EU could prevent terrorists from perpetrating barbaric attacks against innocent civilians as on the 7th of July in London? Have we been bullied into believing this is the only means to safeguard “our way of life”? I do acknowledge that if Turkey does successfully annex itself to Europe, the EU's frontier would extend deep into the Middle East which will certainly be advantageous for numerous European governments, including Britain, by satisfying the geo-political need for a buffer to cushion the EU against Syria, Iran and Iraq, all of whom neighbour Turkey. However, it is my belief that a geographically overstretched Europe is likely to transform into little more than a glorified customs union whilst dissolving the European identity altogether.

We must convince present-day Turkish society to adjust their laws and behaviour toward democratic pluralism for the sake of humanity, and I am confident that with time Turkish society is capable of embracing such values. However, it’s incomprehensible to favour the accession of such a nation into a civilised and pluralistic Europe until Turkey begins to show respect for international law and the international community.

A publication by the EU's executive European Commission showed that only 35 percent of people in the 25 nation bloc were in favour of Turkish membership. Has the British government considered holding a referendum enabling its own citizens to democratically decide whether they believe the EU is capable of absorbing such a large and economically backward country or will our fundamental democratic rights be ignored and violated, once again, by a politically correct ‘elite’ who believe they know what’s best?

Yours sincerely,

[detailer]

Quote: Turkey’s EU accession process is moving along swiftly despite Turkey’s refusal to comply with a demand, set by the EU in 2004, which calls for the immediate and full recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, an existing member of the EU, before membership talks can begin.

Can you show us that demand please?

[detailer]

A typical "turks did all the bad things in this world" thingy.

Why did they do it?

"Don't you know them, they are blood-thirsty monsters"

[cannedmoose]

A well-written, if somewhat biased approach. Somehow I don't think Tony Blair will listen and I'd support him filing this in the round file...

[Crash Test Dummy]

cannedmoose wrote: A well-written, if somewhat biased approach. Somehow I don't think Tony Blair will listen and I'd support him filing this in the round file...

if this is about putting it in the bin then :lol: :lol:
if its not :? :? :? :? :?: :?: :? :? :?

[detailer]

Giorgio wrote: cannedmoose wrote: A well-written, if somewhat biased approach. Somehow I don't think Tony Blair will listen and I'd support him filing this in the round file...

if this is about putting it in the bin then :lol: :lol:
if its not :? :? :? :? :?: :?: :? :? :?


I agree with you, I think moose's humour is exceeding our capacity :lol:

[Crash Test Dummy]

detailer wrote:
I agree with you, I think moose's humour is exceeding our capacity :lol:

delete that post before moose believes we find his jokes funny

[detailer]

Giorgio wrote: detailer wrote:
I agree with you, I think moose's humour is exceeding our capacity :lol:

delete that post before moose believes we find his jokes funny :lol:

[erolz]

Hi Constan and welcome to the forum

Your letter is long and there are many aspects that I could contend with you but I will keep it to a couple for the moment

Constantinopolitis wrote: 18th of August, 2005
Turkey’s EU accession process is moving along swiftly despite Turkey’s refusal to comply with a demand, set by the EU in 2004, which calls for the immediate and full recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, an existing member of the EU, before membership talks can begin.

I am afraid from everything that I know about this, you are just plain wrong. The EU has not made it a prerequist that Turkey recognise the Republic of Cyprus as it exists today before the start of entry talks can begin.

Constantinopolitis wrote:
Are more than 120 UN resolutions documenting and condemning the aggression, occupation, illegal colonisation and ethnic cleansing by Turkey insignificant?

120? Are you sure about this figure?