FORMER FM GONENSAY: ''WE HAVE TO DEVELOP A MODEL SUITABLE FOR TURKEY FOR SOLUTION IN CYPRUS ISSUE''
ISTANBUL (AA) - ''Turkey, before full membership talks with the EU, should develop a model for solution of Cyprus issue and announce that it can put this model into practice only after full membership,'' said former Foreign Minister Prof. Dr. Emre Gonensay.
Delivering a speech at a panel discussion on ''Turkey-EU Relations After Critical Decision'' on Tuesday, Gonensay said, ''Greek Cypriot side's having veto authority regarding Turkey's full membership is a disadvantage.''
''Turkey has two solutions to overcome Cyprus issue. One of them is to pursue 'delay' policy for 5-6 years when entry talks start and to gain time,'' he said.
Gonensay added,'' the other solution is to develop a new model. We should develop a model that is suitable to us, and tell EU that we can put this model into practice only after full membership.''
''Talks will be pursued with a community which is not objective and having prejudices against Turkey. Turkey can create such a synergy with its growing economy and young population that it can eliminate all these prejudices,'' Gonensay said.
Gonensay stated, ''citizens of EU countries have an attitude against Turkey. How leaders of these countries will control this attitude is a question mark.''
He added, ''EU continuously pursues a policy of 'those who are with us and who are not.' Hope for Turkey's full membership weakened after December 17th.''
Meanwhile, former Ambassador Gunduz Aktan also delivered a speech and said, ''decision text of December 17th shows that the EU does not want Turkey.''
''Turkey pursued negotiations very well especially about Cyprus issue. Turkey does not have to recognize Greek Cypriot side as Cyprus republic with the amendment in article 19,'' he added.
Aktan said, ''EU especially presented Cyprus issue before Turkey and drew Turkey's all attention to this issue. Turkey is entering a privileged partnership, but I do not know what Turkey's privilege will be. You can also call this a special status.''
''EU is completely prejudiced against Turkey. The biggest obstacle before Turkey's accession to the EU is liberals in Turkey,'' Aktan said.
Aktan noted, ''prejudiced approach causes countries to exaggerate defects of opposite side without seeing their own defects. Thus, efforts of liberals to enter EU at any cost are pushed aside by the EU.''
Aktan said, ''it is necessary to say 'I am different from you' against prejudice. Thus, an identity crisis is eliminated and for this reason, EU countries approach positively to Justice and Development Party (AK Party).''
(GC-A֩
2004-12-21