‘Privileged partnership an immoral offer’....interview

[brother]

‘Privileged partnership an immoral offer’

Wednesday, August 31, 2005


YUSUF KANLI & ELIF UNAL ARSLAN
ANKARA - Turkish Daily News

  On the brink of two key European Union meetings this week over terms for the opening of Turkey's accession negotiations on Oct. 3, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül laid his cards on the table in an exclusive interview yesterday with the Turkish Daily News.

  Permanent representatives, or ambassadors, of the 25 member countries are expected to meet today in Brussels just a day before the EU foreign ministers get together in Wales for a two-day informal gathering. Candidate country Turkey is not part of today's Brussels' meeting, but Gül will have lunch with his EU counterparts at the end of the Wales gathering.

  Both meetings are expected to involve heated discussions over whether the bloc should issue a counter-declaration to a June statement that Ankara made in order to ensure its sealing of an EU protocol would not amount to recognition of Greek Cyprus and on what Turkey should be offered in a roadmap document for the talks.

  The foreign minister looked confident that Turkey's talks would start on time but expressed regret over the exploitation by some EU-member countries of Turkey's bid for short-term domestic political gains. His remarks noting that "the ultimate target of Turkey's association with the EU has been set as full membership by great visionaries like Adenauer, de Gaulle and Mitterand" were clearly a message to French President Jacques Chirac and German opposition leader Angela Merkel, who have recently upped the ante within the bloc against Turkey.

  Gül described the German opposition's "privileged partnership" offer to Turkey, an alternative to full membership, as "illegitimate and immoral," signaling that Turkey will not accept the placing of such an offer in the roadmap document.

  Herewith is the full text of the foreign minister's interview:

  TDN: Increasingly in these days, we hear from some EU critics certain statements or news regarding the Additional Protocol that was signed on July 29, 2005 with the EU. While some put forward claims in relation to the implementation of the said protocol, others talk about the necessity of the so-called normalization of relations of Turkey with all the EU members. Can we have your comments?

  Gül: Let me first emphasize that by signing the Additional Protocol extending the Ankara Agreement to all the EU member states, Turkey has fulfilled the last requirement for the opening of EU-Turkey accession negotiations on Oct. 3.

  As to the reported ?concerns? of certain EU circles on the implementation of the said protocol, I wish to say that the customs union has already been in full force with all EU member states since Oct. 2, 2004 through a decree of the Council of Ministers.

  Let me inform you that since then, Greek Cypriot companies have started to export their goods to Turkey; they have already exported goods worth thousands of euros and vice versa. So, the customs union is functioning normally with each and every EU member state.

  As we have underlined time and again, Turkey's political will to be a full member of the EU is stronger than ever, and it is only natural for us to interact increasingly with all the EU members on the way to Turkey's full membership in the union. In this context, one should carefully read the declaration we issued on the day we signed the Additional Protocol. You will see that Turkey expresses its readiness to establish relations with the new partnership state that will emerge following a comprehensive settlement on Cyprus.

  This is, in fact, in harmony with the U.N. process aimed at finding a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus issue. As you know, the good-offices mission of the U.N. secretary-general is the proper mechanism for addressing the issue, and Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots continue to fully and actively support the U.N. secretary-general. This is also clearly confirmed in the first paragraph of our declaration of July 29.

  

Pillars of European security:

  TDN: What is your vision for the future of relations among Turkey, Greece and Cyprus?

  Gül: My vision for the future of our region envisages Turkey, Greece and a Cyprus unified after a comprehensive settlement to be an important pillar of Europe for security, stability, prosperity and peace in the eastern Mediterranean.

  This is necessary more than ever in the face of current challenges. The east Mediterranean is facing threats from terrorism to organized crime, from illegal trafficking of drugs and human beings to ecological problems and others.

  We have a strong potential to be our own best neighbors. Turkey offers extensive possibilities in the fields of trade, tourism, communications and banking, etc., and cooperation in energy and transport to its neighbors. It is unfortunate that the Greek Cypriot leadership is depriving its people of all these opportunities by opposing a peaceful settlement of the Cyprus issue.

  Turkey's policy towards our neighbors is free from prejudice. I think, as the Turkish side -- Turkey and the KKTC [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus] -- we have already proved this through positive steps taken in this regard.

  Take, for example, the opening of the border for two-way crossings in April 2003 by the Turkish Cypriots. The impact of this step was enormous. Hundreds of thousands of Greek Cypriots have visited the north in spite of strong discouragement and restrictions by their authorities. Turkish Cypriots are freely traveling to the south. These trips are [occurring at] full speed. New border gates are being opened.

  

Goodwill gesture:

  Similarly, as a goodwill gesture, in 2003, my government facilitated the travel of Greek Cypriot citizens to Turkey. Thousands of Greek Cypriots have visited Turkey, simply obtaining their visas at Istanbul Airport, since we took that decision.

  Turkish Cypriot officials have also taken further steps towards the Greek Cypriots in various fields, including in the areas of education and religious practices.

  It is unfortunate that a rather different state of mind prevails on the Greek Cypriot side. They have been trying hard to isolate the Turkish Cypriots from the rest of the world while at the same time publicly stating that they are not against the development and well-being of their ?Turkish Cypriot compatriots.? They insist on applying direct and indirect restrictions on intra-island trade and tourism and exploiting EU membership in pursuing such policies. Is it not archaic? Can this be described as compatible with the spirit of the EU? I do not remember the precedent of an embargo and isolation applied to ?compatriots.?

  On the other hand, I also wish to recall the decision and commitment of the EU Council, announced more than a year ago, to put an end to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. Unfortunately, we have yet to see any concrete result in the ?implementation? of this decision.

  With the referendum on the Annan plan and through their strong democratic traditions and process, the Turkish Cypriots have proved to the international public that they are a most peaceful and democratic people. Europe should be proud of them. They do not deserve restrictions, embargoes or second-class treatment at all. I am glad to see that each day this is being better acknowledged around the world.

  

Greek Cypriot exploitation of EU unacceptable:

  TDN: What about the issue of restrictions on transport?

  Gül: In principle we are against all kind of restrictions that prevent the development of human beings. With this in mind, last May I put forward through your paper a comprehensive package of proposals to remove these kinds of barriers. We called on all relevant parties to lift all restrictions imposed on both sides in Cyprus on trade and transport. This offer of ours is, unfortunately, being ignored.

  However, it should not go unnoticed that, had it been accepted, this deal would have allowed Greek Cypriot vessels to enter Turkish ports. Obviously, the Greek Cypriots are only after one-sided openings from Turkey and want to turn this issue into a Turkish-EU matter. This is not acceptable.

  TDN: 3rd of October?

  Gül: I must emphasize that Turkey is committed to its obligations arising from its relationship with the EU. At the same time, we are confident that our EU partners will also honor their commitments.

  I am sure the accession negotiations will begin on Oct. 3 as scheduled. I agree with President Chirac that this will be the beginning of a long and difficult process. Full membership might come much later, when conditions and preparations are ripe and suitable enough both for Europe and Turkey.

  Therefore, we shall not be seeking the advantages of full membership until then, and the EU should not be requesting from us the fulfillment of obligations as a full member until then.

  There is no doubt that both Turkey and Europe will be different then from today. However, the need for stronger solidarity and for the protection of common values will surely continue. The important thing is to show common effort towards a common goal that will serve to benefit both Europe and Turkey.

  

 ?Privileged partnership an immoral offer':

  TDN: What do you think of the suggestions by the German Christian Democrats for a status of privileged partnership for Turkey?

  Gül: I find such an offer illegitimate and immoral. This nullifies our common effort of half a century. It also has the potential to handicap the future of our relations.

  Great visionaries like Adenauer, de Gaulle and Mitterand have set the ultimate target of Turkey's association with the EU as being full membership. I am glad to see that the current European statesmen continue to share this vision.

  On the other hand, I regret to see that a long-term issue as crucial as Turkey's future integration with Europe is being exploited for short-term domestic political calculations by some circles.


http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=22179



Well he seems to make sense to me but no doubt many will say he is insincere but all that has been said is true and happened.