BY SAMI KOHEN
MILLIYET- The draft statement leaked this week says things which it shouldn’t have but fails to say things which it should have. Most importantly, the statement doesn’t include a date. In other words, it doesn’t indicate just when the EU will start membership talks with Turkey. The draft, prepared for the Dec. 17 EU summit, consists of two sections, one directly on Turkey and the other addressing the general framework of talks. The last article of five paragraphs about Turkey is blank, but it was supposed to indicate a timetable for talks. Of course this blank will be filled before Dec. 17, but how? France and Austria in particular are leaning towards adding expressions of ‘open-ended negotiations,’ ‘privileged partnership’ and ‘strengthened cooperation.’ It seems that the chairmanship preferred to leave the task of filling in there blanks to the relevant governments and leaders. In other words, this important issue is open to discussion and bargaining. Maybe the final decision will be made on the last day and last minute of the summit. The EU Commission’s report didn’t refer to the Cyprus issue, but this statement includes it. The third paragraph says: ‘The European Council would be glad if Turkey signs the additional protocol on the Ankara Treaty, by taking the participation of new members into consideration.’ Translation: Turkey should recognize the Greek Cypriot administration. This means that the intensive lobbying of Greek Cyprus and Athens yielded results.
When should this recognition take place? Should this happen before Dec. 17, or before our talks start, or during the talks themselves? Officials and analysts say that no one expects such a thing before the summit. Thus, they guess that this expression in the third paragraph will change. In addition, two issues shouldn’t be neglected. Firstly, this document is only a draft, it will be discussed in many meetings and probably certain parts will change. Secondly, the draft should be evaluated as a whole. For example, the first two paragraphs of the chapter on Turkey adopt the commission report’s advice. It includes such issues as free movement and delaying membership talks in the general principle framework chapter. Certain issues in the draft declaration might sound good. There’s no need to panic or feel hopeless. We’ve got a long, difficult road ahead of us. We should face it squarely.