BY SEDAT ERGIN
HURRIYET- Columnist Sedat Ergin writes on Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul’s meeting with the EU troika in Rome earlier this week, which included Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, his Irish counterpart Brian Cowen and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen. A summary of his column is as follows:
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul began his address to the EU troika meeting with these words: ‘The reason we didn’t respond either harshly or openly to the statements regarding the Cyprus issue in the [EU Progress Report’s] Strategy Document was so as not to hand an opportunity to others. However, here and now we will voice our reaction.’ Not surprisingly, Gul’s primary criticism was the report’s focus on the Cyprus issue, something which it argued could constitute a ‘serious obstacle’ to Ankara’s EU bid, failing a permanent settlement by May. ‘The EU is criticizing only [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Rauf] Denktas,’ added Gul. ‘However, reconciliation must be mutual. One-sided reconciliation is tantamount to surrender. If the EU really wants to reach a permanent solution on the island, then it should also put pressure on the Greek Cypriots.’
Responding to Gul’s criticisms, Verheugen underlined that the Cyprus issue wasn’t considered among the EU’s political criteria. ‘However, Cyprus is a political reality. We can’t turn a blind eye to it. This is the first time we’ve included it on our written documents.’ Verheugen stated that the reason for the report’s inclusion of the Cyprus issue was to help Turkey better understand that time is running out to make helpful moves on this issue.
Gul also highlighted Turkey’s recent political reforms, giving his European counterpart the good news that new regulations on the National Security Council (NSC) are due for completion this weekend. He added that legal regulations on education and broadcasts in languages other than Turkish were also almost completed. He proposed that a mechanism be established to help both side be better informed about each other.
Moreover, Verheugen also stressed that next progress report is to be written next October. ‘I hope that Turkey completes its reforms before October. The clock is ticking. Please don’t think that you can wait until the end of 2004. Turkey should finish its work at the latest by next summer’.