The General Affairs Council adopted in Brussels the European Commission proposal for the revised EU-Turkey relations. Cyprus was represented by Foreign Minister George Iacovou.
According to Iacovou, the text approved maintains in its entirety the acquis contained in the statement of 21st September as well as the negotiating framework adopted on 3rd October. In addition, “we managed to strengthen it in many points”, the minister added.
This way, there is reference to Turkey’s obligation to respect and implement the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights.
The EU had officially approved on 21st September the counterstatement of its 25 members to the Turkish unilateral declaration of not recognising the Republic of Cyprus.
In his statements, Iacovou said that all references on Cyprus are included in the short term priorities, meaning two years. The reference on the statement of the 21st of September for the first time after its adoption into acquis communautaire, even as a footnote, is by itself, a positive development, the minister added.
In the text on the EU-Turkey relations the letter “ensure” was added on a Permanent Representatives Committee level which changes the framework that existed so far, since Turkey is invited to make sure it will grant its continued support in efforts to solve the Cyprus problem, implying that for the first time something more is demanded from Turkey. The previous documents, including the Committee’s, had merely called on Turkey to continue supporting the efforts of the Secretary-General.
It added that it is Turkey’s obligation to create a better climate to find a solution, that is to take specific actions to create a better climate, the Minister added.
Furthermore, Turkey’s relations with all member states, including the Republic of Cyprus, must be normalized, since Ankara is called to take specific steps towards this.
As regards the Protocol of the Ankara Agreement, the statement of the 21st September is being reminded as well as that the EU will examine within 2006 whether Turkey has proceeded with its implementation.
Iacovou said that Turkey will have to make up a national plan that will include specific deadlines on the measures it intends to take to fulfill its priorities.
It is clear, said Iacovou, that surely Turkey will have to include in its action plan what specific steps it intends to take to fulfill its obligations regarding Cyprus which are described as “short term priorities”.
Concluding, the Foreign Minister said that one of Nicosia’s aims is Turkey’s date with the EU to take place within the forthcoming EU Austrian Presidency so that Ankara will speed up implementing its obligations.
