AKSAM- Columnist Izzet Sedes writes on the military agreement between the EU and NATO and the obstacles put on its way by Greece. A summary of his column is as follows:
Ten days before the ‘EU Summit meeting’ to be held in Seville, Spain, Greece’s European partners are increasing their pressure on the Simitis government. Since the Laeken Summit in November 2001 up to today, very little distance has been covered in the defense force the EU is trying to put together. Athens is obstructing the ‘continual preparations’ required to be held between the EU and NATO. It is trying to reject the agreement reached between Ankara, NATO and the EU as invalid. Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique, who will hand over the EU’s term presidency at the end of the month to Denmark, is shuttling back and forth to Athens to find a solution but has been unable to get any results. Under normal circumstances Greece will take over the presidency in January 2003. Both as a ‘side’ to the issue and in the place of the ‘judge,’ Greece is not expected to take a stance which would facilitate an agreement with Ankara as the EU forces will take the place of NATO forces during the ‘Red Fox’ operations to be held in Macedonia. This force, which will protect civilian observers in the region, will not be able to take over the post if the ‘continued agreement’ doesn’t go into force. The Allied Forces Command in Europe (SHAPE) can only hand over the post of ensuring security to the EU general staff after an agreement is reached. A delay on the issue is preventing the fulfillment of 15 countries’ wishes in foreign policy as the Macedonian operation would have been EU’s first show of its military defense force. The Greek stance is not regarded unfavorably by the US. It cannot be said that Washington welcomes the formation of a separate EU defense force and achieving a sort of freedom. The Balkan countries, on the other hand, would like the situation to be corrected as soon as possible and a decision taken in order to ensure security in the region. At this point the burden of responsibility is on Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis’ shoulders. The prime minister may have just reasons for resisting the issue as local elections will be held in Greece in September. According to the polls, Simitis’ PASOK party seems to be lagging 6-10 points behind the rightist parties. The most important issue of the elections is ‘relations with Turkey’. This is restricting Simitis’ latitude. As the agreement reached between Ankara, Washington and London was not debated within the EU, Athens sees it as a ‘fait accompli’ against itself. Athens would like the general principles of the EU defense policy to be announced with a declaration and the addition of Greek reservations even if the Ankara agreement emerges unchanged.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION