ANKARA - Peter Westmacott, the British Ambassador to Turkey said on Friday that delivering the EU's commitment to open accession negotiations with Turkey on October 3rd 2005 would be one of Britain's top priorities during Britain's EU term presidency.
Holding a press briefing on the first day of the UK Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers, Westmacott quoted the words of British Prime Minister Tony Blair who said that ''the EU enlargement is not a threat, but an extraordinary and historic opportunity.''
Regarding Cyprus, Westmacott said that ''the UK Presidency will try to make progress on the Aid and Trade Regulations proposed by the Commission to meet the EU's undertaking to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. It will also support UN Secretary General's efforts to find a comprehensive settlement based on the Annan Plan.''
''The EU Commission should immediately begin screening of the 35 individual chapters after Oct. 3. As soon as the first chapters have been screened, the Member States should agree benchmarks for the opening and closing of individual chapter negotiations,'' he said.
Westmacott said that Turkey should focus on stamping out torture and ill treatment; implementing fundamental freedoms including freedoms of expression, association, religion as well as gender equality; judicial reform, improving the situation in the South East, where firm action against terrorism needs to be accompanied by social, cultural and economic development and liberalizing the economy.
In reference to Turkey's signing of the Customs Union Additional Protocol and what it would mean as far as Greek Cypriots are concerned, Westmacott answered that if Ankara and Europe interpret the same document differently --like the issue of whether the Turkish ports and airports should be opened to Greek Cypriots or not--experts from the two sides may come together to study the differences on elaboration.
Ambassador Westmacott indicated that he did not know when the additional protocol would get signed by Turkey. ''Of course, after signing the protocol comes the stage for ratification and implementation.''
Westmacott said that in implementation stage, Turkey would be asked to abide by all the provisions of the protocol.
When reminded that Turkey was preparing to make a written statement saying that its signing the additional protocol would not mean recognition of Greek Cypriot side, Westmacott said that he didn't have information about it, but the thing that mattered was Turkey's commitment of signing that protocol.
Westmacott stressed that entry negotiations with Turkey would begin on October 3rd, after which screening process would start. ''Some of the negotiation topics are easy and some others difficult,'' he said.
Wesmacott stressed that the draft negotiating framework for Turkey was in full conformity with the decisions taken at Dec. 17th EU Summit.
According to Westmacott, it would be surprising to see any structural changes made by the EU Council on the draft negotiating framework. ''The 25 EU members may request changes technically.''
Westmacott added that during the UK's EU Presidency, his government would try to end the economic embargoes on Turkish Cypriots.