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EU-Turkey Negotiations Are Heading For A Stalemate

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  • EU-Turkey Negotiations Are Heading For A Stalemate

    EU-TURKEY NEGOTIATIONS ARE HEADING FOR A STALEMATE

    EurActiv.com, Belgium
    Oct 16 2006

    In Short:

    EU-Turkey negotiations have hit a wall. A solution for the Cyprus
    issue appear to remain out of reach. Comments by Barroso have added
    to the sombre mood around the upcoming progress report.

    RELATED

    EU-Turkey relations
    Turkey accession and Cyprus
    Background:

    The EU launched accession negotiations with Turkey on 3 October 2005.

    The Finnish presidency is currently stepping up its efforts to find
    a compromise on the Cyprus issue, one of the main stumbling blocks
    on Turkey's way to accession, as the pace of negotiations slowed down.

    Issues:

    Greece and Greek Cyprus have blocked the opening of negotiations in
    new policy areas, such as enterprise and industry, pressuring Turkey
    to open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot vessels.

    Greek Cypriot spokesperson Christodoulos Pashiardis said on 12 October
    2006, that their aim was "not to accept the opening of any of the
    remaining 34 chapters concerning Turkey's accession until 8 November
    2006, when Turkey's progress report is issued."

    Turkey refuses to open its ports to Greek Cypriots unless an
    international embargo against the Turkish part of Cyprus is lifted.

    The Finnish presidency is currently in search of a compromise to
    unlock the Cyprus issue, which is currently blocking progress in
    EU-Turkey membership negotiations.

    Meanwhile, Turkish business and consumer groups threatened to boycott
    French products, after a bill passed by the French parliament to
    penalise denial of the Armenian genocide. Turkish Prime Minister
    Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "Because of certain narrow-minded deputies,
    the France we know as a country of liberties is forced to live with
    this shame".

    Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso pronounced a very pessimistic
    view of the progress of Turkey's membership negotiations.

    He said it could be up to 20 years before Turkey joined the EU and
    highlighted a slowdown in reforms.

    Positions:

    Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told the BBC: "We are
    concerned about Turkey because the pace of reforms is rather slow
    from our point of view. I believe it would be great to have Turkey if
    Turkey respects all the economic and political criteria. This is not
    yet the case. It is a country that comes from a different tradition.

    There are efforts in the right direction but nowadays there is news
    that is not encouraging in terms of them coming closer to us."

    Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister George Lillikas said: "Cyprus cannot
    act as if nothing is happening in EU-Turkey relations at a time when
    it refuses to meet its obligations towards the EU".

    Turkey's Chief Negotiator Ali Babacan did not comment on the blockade,
    but said that Turkey expected negotiations to be opened and closed
    on a few chapters during Germany's EU presidency in early 2007.
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