TENSION between the EU and Ankara mounted here yesterday during the meeting of EU foreign ministers after Austria and some other EU members urged rejecting Turkey's full membership as long as it refuses to recognise Cyprus.
EU foreign ministers are meeting to assess Turkey's compliance with conditions to open membership talks next month, particularly Ankara's refusal so far to recognise Cyprus, an EU member. The 25-nation EU has already made clear that the drawn-out membership talks would inevitably involve Cyprus and that the nation will need to approve eventual membership.
The ministers were discussing a counter-declaration to Turkey's July 29 statement on Cyprus, which diplomats said would insist on full and non-discriminatory implementation of the customs pact and stress the importance of Ankara normalising relations with all EU members.
Cypriot Foreign Minister George Iacovou told reporters his government was looking for a forceful reply to Turkey from the foreign ministers meeting making it clear that the non-recognition of Cyprus is unacceptable. He said that though Cyprus ``never threatened'' vetoing the opening of the EU-Turkey accession talks on October 3 ``we just keep our options open."
Britain, as the current president of the rotating EU presidency had drafted a statement dealing with Turkey's declaration but this was rejected by Cyprus, France and some other EU members as too mild.
Discussion on the adoption of the EU counter-statement to Turkey's declaration was continuing last night but indications were that no final decision would be reached and that the issue would be postponed.
Austria's stand followed a fresh declaration yesterday by Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul that Ankara would not open its ports and airports to Cypriot ships and planes in a clear breach of the EU-customs protocol it signed last month.
The suggestion by Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik has found support from France, Slovakia, and by Christian Democrats in Germany who are widely expected to win the September 18 general election.
Reflecting concern over Turkey's stance, the European Parliament postponed a vote that had been expected next week to ratify the protocol expanding the customs union.
"Due to Turkey's additional declaration on Cyprus, the practical implementation of the protocol is almost impossible," said Elmar Brok, chairman of the parliaments' Committee on Foreign Affairs.
In a statement Brok, a German Christian Democrat, said Ankara's handling of the affair was "unacceptable" and made it "almost unfeasible" that Turkey could open membership talks unless a solution is found by the end of this month.
``We have to verify that the EU protocol will be fully implemented by Turkey, particularly after the problems provoked by Turkey's unilateral declaration on Cyprus,'' Brok said
The EU has sought a diplomatic way to let the membership talks begin and at the same time force Ankara to commit to an early recognition of Cyprus.
In July, Turkey signed a deal extending a customs union with the EU to include Cyprus and nine other countries that joined the block in 2004. However, it upset many EU governments by insisting its signature on the customs deal does not mean Ankara now recognizes the Cypriot government.
Gul, who will meet his EU counterparts here today, said Turkey had fulfilled all its obligations to open membership talks.
"Now all Turkey can do is to expect EU members to honour"
their promise to open entry negotiations next month, he added.
Gul said Turkey would only establish ties with Cyprus once the island's division was resolved and a new partnership state was reformed.
The debate over Turkey's handling of the Cyprus issue is part of growing unease within the EU over whether to start membership talks with Ankara next month. Many in the EU fear that the inclusion of Turkey would flood the EU market with cheap labour and that the inclusion of the overwhelmingly Muslim nation could upset the political balance in the EU.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana played down the tension over the Cyprus issue, saying he was almost certain the EU would reach a common position.
"I think very much the way to start the negotiations on the (Oct) 3rd is clear," he told reporters.
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