Turkey-Cyprus compromise deal in pipeline

LUCIA KUBOSOVA

31.08.2005 @ 17:44 CET

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The Council's legal experts have stated that Turkey's declaration on not recognizing Cyprus should not be an obstacle to starting EU talks in October, with a compromise supported by France on the way, according to diplomats.

EU ambassadors held their first debate on Wednesday (31 August) about Turkey and its position before the launch of its accession talks, scheduled for 3 October.

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The issue is set to dominate the informal meeting of foreign ministers in Newport, Wales, starting on Thursday (1 september).

The ambassadors discussed the legal opinion on Ankara's declaration, issued as an attachment to its signature under the customs union protocol with EU 25 member states, including Cyprus.

According to the Council experts, the declaration - stating that the approval of the protocol with Cyprus does not mean an official recognition of the republic - is an "additional, unilateral document with limited influence, which does not change the provisions of the protocol and should not therefore complicate the situation or create difficulties for starting the negotiations", an official told EUobserver.

"It seems like France has softened its stance and has supported a compromise solution with several other countries", he said.

The compromise might take the form of a counter-declaration, stating that the customs union protocol must be fully implemented, but its full wording will be further discussed by foreign ministers in Wales.

None of the member states has questioned the starting date of the talks, according to diplomats, with one official claiming "the debate was very constructive, and although it did not lead to a concrete decision - as the talk would continue tomorrow - our positions were not as polarized as might have been expected".

Stop the blockage of Cypriot ships and planes

However, both the member states and the commission are ready to step up pressure on Turkey that it stop banning ships and planes from Cyprus in its ports and air space, stressing it is not in line with the customs union agreement Turkey signed in late July.

The document has established customs union between Ankara and EU member states, which also provides for free movement of goods among these countries.

Brussels has asked the Turkish authorities several times to change its practice, but so far without success, the EU executive's spokeswoman told journalists on Wednesday (31 August).

The issue is of crucial importance for Cypriot business, the spokesman of the country's embassy to the EU told EUobserver.

Cyprus has one of the world's biggest commercial fleets and is highly affected by the ban on any vessels with a Cypriot flag at Turkey's ports, applied since the 1974 conflict over the island.

The provisions also apply to foreign ships, setting off from Cyprus, and to Cypriot planes, which are unable to cross Turkey's air space.

Nicosia - along with the EU's top institutions - is set to continue pressing Ankara in the coming days for a change in these rules.

And while Cyprus itself does not condition the start of talks with Turkey on its official recognition by Ankara, its representatives view it as a "paradox", given the intergovernmental character of the negotiations.