MILLIYET- Columnist Fikret Bila comments on Prime Minister Abdullah Gul’s stance on the European Union and Cyprus issues before tomorrow’s Copenhagen summit. A summary of his column is as follows:
Before Prime Minister Abdullah Gul left to attend the EU’s Copenhagen meeting, a summit was held at the Presidential Palace yesterday. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer invited Gul and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok to the palace to discuss recent developments on several issues. After the summit, we talked with Mr. Gul and asked him the following questions:
- The European Union is talking about giving us a date in 2005. What’s your take on this?
- We couldn’t possibly accept 2005. We are definitely against this. It’s a complete non-starter, and we’ll say as much at Copenhagen.
- Well then, what date would Turkey accept? For example, some people say that 2004 would be appropriate. What’s your opinion?
- We will insist on receiving a date before the end of next year. 2004 would also be too late for us. [When the EU’s current expansion is completed] 27 countries will have their say on Turkey, and each of them will primarily be looking to protect their own share of the EU’s resources. Therefore we will insist on 2003. Nobody can tell us that we haven’t met the Copenhagen criteria. Maybe I’ll even carry our new reform package with me to Copenhagen. Perhaps the EU wasn’t expecting us to be this quick. We have a clear, courageous and brave stance, and we expect the same thing from the EU.
- How will you react if Copenhagen turns sour for Turkey and they decide in favor of 2005? What will we do then?
- We want to continue being hopeful. However, if we face such a situation, then we would think that they have shown their view. We also have a plan B. If they force such a situation, we can in no way accept it. We’re determined on this. I don’t like to offend other countries, but we can’t just sit patiently in the waiting room and put up with this [situation].
- What will be your stance on the Cyprus issue? This week Kofi Annan proposed a revised plan which he hopes Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas will sign before the summit.
- It’s not a positive document for the Turkish side. We’re thinking of de-linking the Cyprus issue from the EU.
- What would happen if they make Greek Cyprus an EU member and set 2005 as a date for Turkey?
- This would be an error of historic proportions, and the EU must be ready to take the consequences.
Mr. Gul is going to Copenhagen full of determination. It’s clear that the president, chief of general staff and opposition parties all support Gul. The summit at the Presidential Palace made our stances on the EU and the Cyprus issues crystal clear.

SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION