EUROPEAN COMMISSION ANNOUNCED ITS PROGRESS REPORT ON TURKEY

The European Commission yesterday (8 November) issued its 75-page progress report on Turkey. The report evaluated to what extent Turkey has met its political and economic criteria for EU membership and her relations with the EU.

In the progress report, it was reminded that Turkey was obliged to remove restrictions on transportation and provide the free movement of goods for 10 new EU members including the Greek Cypriot administration, in line with Ankara Protocol. The report said: "EU will continue to closely monitor Turkey and will evaluate if Turkey has made the full implementations within the year 2006 or not."

It was also reminded that Turkey on many occasions supported a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus under the auspices of the UN, and offered support to both peoples on the island for the formation of the technical committees.

President Mehmet Ali Talat evaluating the EU’s progress report on Turkey, referred to the time limit given to Turkey until December to open its air and sea ports to South Cyprus and said he couldn’t say that nothing would happen in five weeks as it was up to the EU whether there would be any development or not.

President Talat stressed if the EU and the Greek Cypriot side acted more constructive on the lifting of the Turkish Cypriots’ isolation, it would be easier for Turkey to implement its obligations, which were claimed to stem from its Customs Union agreement with the EU.

Underlining that the start of direct flights was much more important than the implementation of the Direct Trade Regulation, the President said lack of direct transportations was the biggest obstacle in front of tourism in North Cyprus. Stressing that the most serious effect of the economic isolations was the lack of direct flights, President Talat said Finland’s proposal was utterly unbalanced.

Pointing out that Varosha was part of a comprehensive settlement, however Finnish proposal envisaged transferring its control to the UN, the President said accordingly the Turkish Cypriot side would not receive anything in return, except a partial direct trade. Continuing, President Talat said:

"Whatever is offered, it’s for the Greek Cypriots; the opening of Turkish ports, the control of Famagusta port by the EU, which means the Greek Cypriot side as an EU member would also have a say on it; the transfer of Varosha firstly to the UN and then to the Greek Cypriots. These are all imbalanced. Finland was very late to establish contact with the Turkish Cypriot side and this created a big imbalance. However, if they contacted with us from the beginning, they wouldn’t cause this imbalance."

On being asked when he was going to meet with Annan, President Talat said:

"Gambari process is continuing and we are waiting for his letter. The Greek Cypriots are trying to prevent this letter. Why? Because, as long as the EU process continues and the Cyprus issue was kept away from the UN basis, the Greek Cypriots think that they would be in an advantageous position. They are aiming to achieve one-sided concessions and trying to kill the UN process. However, the EU was placing importance to UN process, therefore I will convey our request for the refreshment of the UN process. Our meeting with Annan would be in the forthcoming days within this month."