The European Parliament has called on Turkey to begin immediately withdrawing its occupation forces from the northern part of the Republic of Cyprus, which they occupy since they invaded in 1974.
The Parliament urges Ankara to show “active support” for the ongoing peace talks for a Cyprus settlement and to contribute in “concrete terms” to a comprehensive settlement.
Euro MPs call "on Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot authorities" to stop the influx of settlers from Turkey into Cyprus’ northern part and say that Ankara must facilitate access to military zones and archives to help resolve the humanitarian issue of missing persons.
A resolution on Turkey’s progress report relating to its accession negotiations, adopted by a large majority vote today by the Parliament, calls on the Turkish government and all parties concerned to give their active support to the ongoing negotiations on the Cyprus issue and to contribute in concrete terms to a comprehensive settlement.
It calls on the Turkish government “to facilitate a suitable climate for negotiations by starting to withdraw its forces from Cyprus immediately; strongly urges the two communities in Cyprus to work intensively, in accordance with the UN Secretary-General’s request, to capitalise on the progress already made in the negotiations, in order to reach a sustainable solution – in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and promoting, in particular, Resolution 550 (1984), and with the principles on which the EU is founded – for the benefit of Cypriot citizens, the EU and Turkey.”
The Parliament encourages Turkey to intensify its support for the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus, in particular by facilitating its access to military zones and archives, and to take all other appropriate action, in accordance with the findings of the European Court of Human Rights, on the humanitarian issue of missing persons.
It calls on "Turkey and the Turkish-Cypriot authorities to refrain from any new settlements of Turkish citizens on the island, as this would continue to change its demographic balance and reduce the allegiance of its citizens to a future common state based on its common past; calls on Turkey to address the issue of the settlement of Turkish citizens on the island, in accordance with the Geneva Convention and the principles of the International Law.”
Furthermore, it urges both parties, Turkey and Armenia, to ratify, without preconditions, the protocols and to open the border, and calls on Turkey to use its regional weight to enhance confidence-building measures.
The European Parliament takes note of the intensified efforts by Turkey and Greece to improve their bilateral relations, considers it regrettable, however, that the casus belli threat declared by the Turkish Grand National Assembly against Greece has not yet been withdrawn; expects the Turkish Government to end the continued violation of Greek airspace and Turkish military aircraft flights over Greek islands.
The Parliament expressed concern at the ''slow progress'' on human rights and key reforms in Turkey in 2010.
The Cyprus-Turkey deadlock, lack of dialogue among Turkish political parties and the undermining of press freedom and other basic rights in Turkey are the key factors slowing down the country's EU accession talks, said rapporteur Ria Oomen-Ruijten (EPP, NL) during the debate.
The resolution welcomes Turkey's adoption of constitutional amendments but stresses that ''an overall constitutional reform'' is still needed to transform Turkey into a real democracy. MEPs also applaud the recent finalisation of negotiations on a readmission agreement to handle migration. Once this enters into force, the Commission should initiate ''a visa dialogue, with particular attention to the matter of entry conditions for business people and students''.
Among the main remaining challenges, MEPs list the worrying deterioration of press freedom, including self-censorship of national media and internet sites; the situation of women and rising rates of honour killings and forced marriages; and the lack of protection of religious minorities. ''Only limited progress'' has been made to ensure their legal protection so that they can own properties, open houses of worship or train clergy, adds the resolution.
The wording and specific demands of the text were hammered out in tough negotiations among Parliament's political groups. During the drafting process by the Foreign Affairs Committee, the EPP group agreed to withdraw an amendment calling on EU institutions to ''study the possibility'' of establishing a ''privileged partnership'' with Turkey, as an alternative to full EU membership.
