open Democracy News Analysis - Turkey and the European Union: don't despair, Katinka Barysch - Comments

Cole_2233 on "Turkey and the European Union: don’t despair"

Cole_2233 — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 23:24:10 +0000

Amen - Kingstukie

The US is asking the EU to make a decision, solely for today�s political/military profit that could have repercussions for hundreds of years in Europe.

Turkey should wise up and form alliances with some of their neighbours to the East and the South of their country, like Jordan, Egypt or the New Iraq. The Turkish will have more in common with these nations on issues like the position of women and religious and social sensibilities.

Buying into Turkey is a little like the internet boom and bust � of a few years ago. Billions were invested in internet, on the grounds that one day, it might be needed, and of course billions were lost, as the thing, which was being invested in did not exist.

With Turkey we should take it as it comes, more one day at a time, if an alternative fuel is invented, for instance, who will look in that direction? At the moment we have a country that is clearly demonstrating its wish not conform to the standards set out by Europe, while on the other side, it is demanding that it should have the absolute right to join it.

A Turkey that doesn�t wish to conform could end up the �special case�, which the rest of Europe might end up having to conforming to.

kingstukie on "Turkey and the European Union: don’t despair"

kingstukie — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 15:59:36 +0000

Turkey's entry into the EU should be taken to referendum.

I have a better idea. How about making Turkey the 51st state of the US. If the US government wants them in so much the US can have them!

husnumurat_1 on "Turkey and the European Union: don’t despair"

husnumurat_1 — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 18:31:40 +0000

Ms. Barysh captures the issue around Cyprus with the Greek rejection of the Annan plan.

From the Turkish point of view, I would agree with the author about the high price of leaving the table. However she fails to mention, that even with the extreme pragmatism of the government, the results obtained is a repeat of disastrous Luxemburg summit. In deed there is a time for leaving the table and it does not seem so far at this point.

From the European side, EU should never forget that it admitted a divided island into its structure against the very own constitution and founding agreements with an ex-convict EOKA leader as a president.

I think what the diplomats really need to acknowledge is that the only place Cyprus can be resolved is within the United Nations. And proposals such as Finnish attempt, would undermine the resolution chances in the future. Dealing with only Varosha, will not solve the Cypriot problem and will make it next to impossible.

Mr. Rehn's expectation of a golden goal from Turkey however is equally matched by the expectation from Turkey, lifting the isolation from the side that approved the unification under Annan plan.

modushg on "Turkey and the European Union: don’t despair"

modushg — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 16:00:48 +0000

Thank you for the article and the comments. When speaking of the very principle of pacta sund servanda, people always acts extremely -politically- selective and with evident amnesia.

Turkey agreed to extend Customs Union agreement in return for the political promise that the irrational isolation of Turkish Community in the Northern Cyprus will be relieved, if not removed. This isolation is a product of pure political cynicism. If it is Turkey to blame for, then the isolations would have been directed to Turkey. However, it has been the Turkish Community who has been punished, who also punished for voting yes in UN's reunification plan... And it is the Greek Community who has been awarded for voting No in said referanda, and systematically and continuously vetoeing the European Parliament and European Council confirmations and political promises against the isolation of Turkish community.

If such vetoes had not been engineered with the cynicist and thus unethical support of France and Austria, then we would not be experiencing any default by Turkey for not extending the Customs Union agreement.

I hope European Union knows what it has been doing, and that the sacred principle of solidarity among members should not produce results as undermining the very foundations of EU.

EU is not the sole alternative for EU, and vice versa. Such 'politically correct' and cynical moves in the process of accession of Turkey -nowadays seemingly mission impossible task- would only detriment the credibility of EU. Turkey cannot be worse.

m.jamil on "Turkey and the European Union: don’t despair"

m.jamil — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 04:47:08 +0000

unfortunate perception by cypriots, tragically many youth, who identify as "greek" first, then as cypriots ... most older turkish cypriots who lived there before the clash have emigrated, many in uk which offered that as compensation for making a mess while holding the island ... the process for reunification needs time and the courage to overturn current "greek" public opinion by education to counter viscous anti-turk propaganda & by EU to force their acceptance of a divided, but cooperative federal process leading to possible one-state solution. Both EU & UN were cowardly in caving in to ultra-nationalist "greek" campaign ... but this is a sideshow that should not interfere with deeper turkish-eu issues. at this point turkey is more western & progressive than most of the balkan/slavic states, including romania & bulgaria, which are "sleeper cells" for an american trojan horse policy to weaken the eu. bulgarian migrants still pour into turkey to take low paying employment that is better than what is available in their own country. more to come.

ianniscarras on "Turkey and the European Union: don’t despair"

ianniscarras — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 22:05:43 +0000

It would seem to me that Katinka Barisch's article completely misses the point. In return for beginning negotiations, Turkey took on a commitment to open its ports to trade with all members of the EU, including Cyprus. This it has not done. It is therefore EU credibility that is on the line. Do EU agreements count for anything? Should the EU take Turkey at its word?

In fact the Finish proposal for a deal would have offered a way out for everyone. Cypriot ships would be allowed to dock in certain Turkish ports, trade would flow to directly to at least one port in northern Cyprus, and Varosha would be opened up for use by the owners of property there, a commitment made long ago by none other than Mr. Denktash. In that way all sides would keep commitments made previously irrespective of the outcome of final negotiations.

It beggars belief that this reasonable option has been turned down, it would seem by Turkey. In the circumstance the EU can have no option but to put all chapters of the negotiation on hold. This will prove of great benefit both to Cyprus, Turkey and also Britain.

To Cyprus because negotiations on the final status of the island will immediately reopen, hopefully with a draft proposal that includes such essential features of a deal as cross-determination (or cross-voting), a reasonable security arrangement (EU or NATO) and financial arrangements that would not lead to state bancruptcy in the first few years afer reunification (all unfortunate features or by products of the final draft of the Anan Plan). Needless to say the biggest winners of such an outcome would be the Turkish Cypriots.

It would be beneficial to Turkey because the biggest obstacle to that country's entry into the EU is the role of its military both inside its borders and in its near abroad. A reexamination of the role of the military is essential and must include its role in occupying, and controlling, northern Cyprus. Turkey, like Britain and Greece, used their guarantor status not to protect Cyprus, but to serve their own narrow national interests as seen through the distorting lense of military power. These three countries bare the brunt of the shame for the tragic outcome, and all three must be honest about their guilt and show penance.

And it would be beneficial to Britain because if no unitary solution to the Cyprus issue is found, and the two parts of the country go their seperate ways, the treaties guaranteeing British sovereign bases on Cyprus would no longer be valid and those bases would, in the long run, have to be removed.

All reasons to stand up for EU principle now. Because unless the EU is honest with Turkey, Turkey will never be ready to enter as a full member. And that really would be a pity.

J.C.

Turkey and the European Union: don't despair, Katinka Barysch

Mon, 27 Nov 2006 00:00:00 +0000

The accession of Turkey to the European Union is beset by troubles. It needn’t be if both sides concentrate on the positives, the big picture and the long term, says Katinka Barysch. Read the rest of this post...