Brussels, 25/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - If the EU decided to put an end to the isolation of northern Cyprus by allowing its member states to have direct trade relations with the Turkish community of the island, then Turkey would be willing to open its ports and airports to Cypriot vessels and aircraft according to the obligation upon it under the additional protocol to the Ankara Agreement on extending EU/Turkey customs union to all new member states (including Cyprus), Turkey's chief negotiator for EU membership talks said on Thursday. Speaking to a small group of journalists in Brussels, Egemen Bagis said it was absurd to see that, by blocking the Commission's 2004 proposal for a regulation on direct trade between the EU and northern Cyprus, the Greek Cypriots “refrain from” allowing their 26 EU partners from trading with the Turkish community while they, themselves, do so across the “green line”. Holding trading relations with the northern part of the island must not mean that the EU automatically recognises the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) “as many countries trade with Taiwan without officially recognising it”, Mr Bagis stressed. In the same way, opening Turkish ports and airports to Cypriots would not mean that Ankara recognises the Republic of Cyprus, he said, calling for a pragmatic approach. The question of Turkish ports and airports is crucial for continuing Turkey's membership talks as it is because of non-application of the Ankara protocol on extension of customs union (also to Cyprus) that the EU decided in December 2006 to suspend talks on eight chapters. In December, the Council is expected to reassess this decision on the basis of the Commission report. If Ankara does not move between now and then, suspension will no doubt be confirmed.
Mr Bagis also said he was “confident” that a solution would be found by the end of the year to the problem of the division of Cyprus. “At any rate I can see great willingness on the part of the Turkish Cypriots”, he said. The leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, Ali Mehmet Talat, has Ankara's “full support” for negotiating reunification that is equitable and acceptable for all.
On the subject of accession talks with the EU (which continue very slowly with only 10 of the 35 chapters open - an 11th will be opened on 30 June - see yesterday's EUROPE - and a single dossier has been closed), Mr Bagis clearly reiterated that “only accession” will be acceptable. “It will be all or nothing”, he said. Ankara has great expectations of the Swedish Presidency of the EU (Sweden, he said, is a great supporter of the Turkish cause with all the parties represented in parliament being in favour of the country's EU membership, he commented). Without wishing to take a stance on the number of chapters that could be opened by the end of the year, Mr Bagis cited dossiers that could “potentially” be opened, such as: social policy, environment, competition, education/culture and energy. Cyprus is still blocking these last two chapters but Turkey trusts that “common sense” will prevail and that the other member states will manage to convince Nicosia to lift its veto.
The fact that the new European Parliament will be more than ever before composed of eurosceptic members, nationalists who are often hostile to Turkey's membership, does not worry Mr Bagis exceedingly. At any rate, it will not be this Parliament, but rather that for the 2014-2019 legislature, that will have to vote on the country's accession, he said. Furthermore, at the time of concluding talks, “Turkey will be a completely different country from today just as the European Union will also be very different”. Surprisingly, Mr Bagis supports the idea that member states should organise national referendums on Turkey's EU membership, once the negotiation process has been finished. And he is confident that these referendums in member states will not be an obstacle to his country's membership. He does not even rule out that public support in member states in favour of Turkey could be greater than public support in Turkey when consulted by referendum at the end of the process. “We may find ourselves in a situation where Europeans have to convince the Turkish people that it is in their interest to join the Union”, he said. In the meantime, Turkey continues its reforms as these still have to be carried out, with or without EU membership, Mr Bagis stressed. (H.B./transl.jl)