Brussels, 03/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - A keen supporter of Turkey's EU membership, the United States has publicly put pressure on Turkish leaders to make a greater effort to resolve the Cypriot issue. Special US Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Weston, who was on visit to Brussels on Wednesday, underlined this when speaking to several journalists. "Turkey should be doing more on the Cyprus issue"' and above all show proof of "political will" as requested by Kofi Annan with regard to its plan and the organisation of a referendum. "We are very strong supporters, too strong say some in Europe, of Turkey's European aspirations", Ambassador Weston said, before going on to add that it nonetheless seems "very difficult" to him to envisage negotiations beginning "without there being a solution to the Cypriot issue". At the "practical" level, the United States representative does not see how negotiations can begin since the situation would be one in which Turkey "does not recognise one of the Member States". Furthermore, Mr Weston considers that everything points to Turkey moving toward the Copenhagen criteria (see also article on p.9).
Thomas Weston said he was very pleased with the European Union's attitude with regard to the Cypriot issue. The EU and the United States enjoy "an all but unequalled degree of cooperation" in transatlantic relations on the Cypriot issue, he said. He explained that, what the US expects of the EU is what the EU is doing.
Thomas Weston is expected to meet Greek and Turk Cypriot leaders in New York in September to prepare his visit to Cyprus mid-October. He considers "there is a chance" of reaching an agreement before the Cypriot Republic joins the EU in May 2004. The US envoy stresses that the elections to take place in northern Cyprus in December are important. "I would not go so far as to say that it is a referendum on the future, but it is very close to it", he said on Wednesday.
Thomas Weston met senior officials of the European Commission in Brussels as well as members of Javier Solana's cabinet. After a visit to London on Tuesday, Ambassador Weston is to go to Berlin, Paris and Rome before returning to Washington.
Criticism of signing of customs union agreement between Turkey and Northern Cyprus
As the European Union was expected to, Ambassador Weston criticised the signing at the beginning of August of a customs agreement between Turkey and Northern Cyprus. He indicated very clearly that the USA did not appreciate the fact that a country with which it is linked by a free trade agreement signed an agreement of the same kind "with an entity that was not recognised". He sated that, "Turkey must answer certain questions". The European Commission is currently preparing its reaction to this agreement. It has not yet officially reacted except for indicating that due to the customs union that links the EU to Turkey, it would have liked to have been consulted. From a legal point of view, European sources have deplored this initiative that brings the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic closer to Turkey and "does not facilitate finding a political agreement on the island".