Turkey promises to take Finnish Cyprus initiative seriously

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A glimmer of hope could be seen on Wednesday in the increasingly strained relations between Turkey and the European Union, after Turkey promised to give a chance to Finland's initiative on Cyprus.
      Turkey's Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül gave the green light to talks aimed at averting a crisis between Turkey and the EU that could be looming at the end of the year.
      Speaking at a press conference in Ankara alongside Olli Rehn the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Gül praised Finland's "well-meaning and constructive" input as the current holder of the rotating EU Presidency.
     
The EU has so far failed in its attempt to persuade Turkey to ratify the additional protocol of a customs agreement between Turkey and the EU. Ratification would open Turkey's harbours and airports to Cyprus, which is a country that Turkey does not officially recognise.
      "The present situation helps nobody. We do not plan to run away from seeking a solution", Gül said.
      However, he also emphasised that Turkey would not agree to a solution that requires concessions only from Turkey, while letting Cyprus off easily.
      The aim of the Finnish plan is believed to include concessions in the other direction as well. Details have not yet been disclosed, and Rehn considers confidentiality to be crucial for the success of the talks.
      In any event, time is of the essence. It is generally thought that the deadline for a settlement will fall on November 8th, the day on which the Commission is to issue its report on the progress of membership talks with Turkey. Failure could bring a double blow: the Union might freeze its discussions, and any such move would also hinder reforms within the country.
     
The first anniversary of Turkey's EU membership talks emphasised the dismantling of problems that had accumulated.
      Commissioner Rehn repeated demands that Turkey change the part of its criminal code which has led to the prosecution of journalists and writers for "defaming Turkishness".
      The Commission says that 69 prosecutions have been launched under the measure.
     
The pace of reform in Turkey has slowed down considerably. The EU is pushing Turkey to improve the lot of religious minorities, for instance.
      The atmosphere in the country has become increasingly restless in many ways. Increased terror attacks, nationalist fervour, unrest in the Kurdish region of the southeast, and constant political stands taken by the army have put the Turks on edge.
      There is also a prevailing mistrust toward the EU. Support for EU membership has declined. According to the sociological study Transatlantic Trends 2006, only 45 per cent of Turks are now in favour of EU membership.
     
"Our possibilities of defending the EU are dwindling, and even my own faith has started to waver", says Dr. Haluk Günugur, the chairman of Turkey's EU association.
      "We hear statements from European politicians opposed to Turkish membership, and the European Parliament constantly drafts reports that criticise Turkey. Europe seems to be undecided with respect to Turkey", Günugur says.
      He feels that there is a deliberate campaign by European politicians opposed to Turkish membership, aimed at getting Turkey to give up its hopes of joining the EU.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Commissioner Rehn criticises repeated violations of free speech in Turkey (22.11.2005)
  "Mustafa Olli" gets acquainted with the Turkish heartland (11.10.2005)

Helsingin Sanomat