BY SEMIH IDIZ
MILLIYET- Following the decision taken by the EU Council last week, it was clear that starting membership talks on four chapters which weren't suspended wouldn't be a great gesture to Ankara, because closing these chapters is also conditional. Actually the EU wants these chapters opened in order to be able to say that despite everything the train is moving forward. It's also known that membership talks have actually been stopped since June. If talks can be started on these chapters, it could appease Turkey. Although Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul knows the condition for closing those chapters, he wants talks to be opened on these chapters for pragmatic reasons, because Ankara has to show that relations with the EU are continuing in spite of everything and that EU membership is still a `state policy' for Turkey. In addition, Ankara doesn't have a consistent alternative, at least right now. However, when the EU Council suspended membership talks on eight chapters and stipulated the closure of other chapters was contingent on the Cyprus issue, it was clear that this matter wasn't over. Because, as I mentioned earlier, the Greek Cypriots announced that they retain their right of veto on other issues to be negotiated. The news from Brussels yesterday also shows that the Greek Cypriots have already started to use this `right.'
According to this news, the Committee of Permanent Representatives to the EU (COREPER) reached a consensus during its meeting yesterday that membership talks would be opened not on four chapters, but on only one, as the Greek Cypriot administration wanted. This is nothing but rubbing salt into Turkey's wound. It seems that Greek Cyprus is a rare blessing for those who want to turn Turkey's EU journey into torture. We could see from German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier's press conference two days ago that during Germany's term presidency, which will start soon, no one should expect developments for Turkey or Turkish Cyprus. Steinmeier listed the issues that they will deal with during their term presidency, but he mentioned Turkey as little as he could, although it's been the number one issue for the EU for weeks. He offered no hope for lifting the embargo from the Turkish Cypriots. Instead, he only said that they would look for a `way' for this. However, there's no need to look for a way, because what should be done is very clear, that is, complying with the EU Commission's suggestions on this issue. The Greek Cypriot administration has already leaked the news that an agreement was reached with Germany that Turks would carry out international trade not directly, but through Greek Cypriot harbors. This is nothing but giving the message that `either Germany complies with this, or we'll use our veto.' In short, the EU is continuing to hurt and alienate Turkey.