An excellent article by Michael Werz

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
03/08/2011 19:30

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/08/cypriot_problem.html



31st of July 1959 is when Turkey applied for associate membership to the European economic community.

Could July 2012,see them turn their back forever,



Paul.

hetty


Joined: 31/07/2011
Posts: 167

Message Posted:
03/08/2011 19:58

I would like to respond to this but fear prevents me from doing so. I have tolerated enough today already.

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
03/08/2011 20:18

Go for it girl.Dont get het up Hetty,lol,



Paul.

hetty


Joined: 31/07/2011
Posts: 167

Message Posted:
03/08/2011 20:29

I try not to Paul lol, but some on here try the patience of a saint. All I will say is that it is an excellent article.

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
03/08/2011 22:25

Michael is a very good writer indeed Hetty,



Paul.

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
04/08/2011 00:45

Appears to be a considered and insightful article.

Makes me wonder about the which side is worried more about a possible "Easternization" of Turkey.

Is it Turkey that should be worried about what benefits it may loose in exchange for new possibilities by turning away from Europe or should it be a concern for the West in potentially loosing what could be described as their easiest access to the middle-Eastern resources through Turkey.



I suppose it is becoming a case of "who is going to blink first"

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
04/08/2011 01:35

WHAT is 'well-written' about this?:



>>Since then, Cyprus has liberally employed its capacity to block Turkey’s accession into the EU in order to strengthen its bargaining position vis-à-vis the Turkish-side of the Cyprus <<



Cyprus had THREATENED to use it's Veto - but didn't.. it is Turkeys own folly - signing an agreement to open all ports / airspace to ALL EU members - in return for a Customs Union agreement - AFTER the 'rump' RoCs accession - that gave other EU members like France, Germany, etc. the 'excuse' to slow down TR's accession



As ever, Cyprus is a tool used by greater powers at the expense of it's own people.



>>Cyprus immediately used its newly gained veto power—a privilege of every EU country—to block proposals that would have improved the Union’s economic ties with the Turkish-section of the island.<<



When HAS Cyprus used such a Veto..? Yes, it HAS claimed it should distribute the aid and not mades things easy.



This article is CLEARLY inaccurate :(

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
04/08/2011 02:43

Re: Msg 7,

"This article is CLEARLY inaccurate :( "



Absolutely and throughout!

I wouldn't even comment on what is written about EU-NATO etc. etc. etc.

Troodo


Joined: 12/06/2008
Posts: 1002

Message Posted:
04/08/2011 08:24

it is Turkeys own folly - signing an agreement to open all ports / airspace to ALL EU members - in return for a Customs Union agreement –

mm. Turkey only signed this agreement on the basis of a codicil added at the last gasp that they would not recognize the roc. Yes, they were fools to expect the EU to honor any such agreement.

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
04/08/2011 09:41

It may be worth adding the following content to the background presented so far:

"Greek Cyprus in flurry to block direct trade for KKTC"

http://preview.tinyurl.com/3nv3yea

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
04/08/2011 09:50

Just a couple more:



"Turkey rebuffs Cyprus over ports" (2006) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/5087108.stm

"Cyprus threatens to block EU deal on Turkey talks" (2006) http://euobserver.com/9/23008

It can be seen from these - albeit few - references, there has been a complete divergence of views on the way forward. It remains to be seen whether the cost of a "stuff it up your jumper then" decision in the end will be seen as affordable by either side.

Troodo


Joined: 12/06/2008
Posts: 1002

Message Posted:
04/08/2011 10:33

Msg 21.

Example – Turkey only signed the Customs Union agreement on the basis of a codicil added at the last gasp that they would not recognize the roc. Yes, they were fools to expect the EU to honor any such agreement.

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
04/08/2011 10:55

Hi Brother re 10



sorry - but the tinyurl link doesn't work.. and I HATE the term 'Greek Cyprus' [ it infers that Greeks live there ]



Your other articles don't mention that while Cyprus ( foolishly) threatened use of the Veto - they DIDN'T use it... Turkey broke the Customs Union treaty... hence the suspension of certain chapters - chapters being boxes to tick re the accession progress



Your analysis would upset Mr Günter Verheugen the EU Enlargement Commissioner at the time who worked so hard to avoid a 'train crash' whereby TR's EU accession would be stopped in itt's tracks..



It also 'forget's that OTHER EU members are slowing down TR's progress - TR hasn't adhered to the process - TR is trying to dictate to the EU - having signed agreements - it seeks to change 'em



@ Troodo - did TR sign a customs agreement allowing ALL EU Members access to it's ports / airspace ?

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
04/08/2011 11:08

Hi ms, the TinyURL works for me: it should show a preview page so that you can click on it in confidence.

My analysis is in the end my own Everyone is entitled to their own opinion so I tend to avoid the Shift key ;-).



Have another go at the link via this non preview one when you get a chance: http://tinyurl.com/3nv3yea



Alternative is the original URL:

http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action;jsessionid=B8F1650547804F1336959632A5FE3632?newsId=209353

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
04/08/2011 11:12

Hi Brother re msg 14



Thanks for posting the direct link.. which works !



I appreciate your analysis but wondered if my response has triggered any counter ? ;)

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
04/08/2011 12:19

ERRATA.. re msg 13 I meant Olli Rehn - not Günter Verheugen - he came earlier..



Anyway - here's a good article re TRs accession



http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RS22517.pdf

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
04/08/2011 14:15

OK so the report link in Msg.16 is quite a recent report and one could say that the main issue over Cyprus is the disagreement over the "broken promise" of financial aid to NC and the closer customs union (the opening of Ports to all EU members).

We can see that it is an argument over what should happen first.

On a wider point we can also see there are some significant areas of focus on its "political values and norms".

One may wonder whether a resolution of the Cyprus issue and/or the customs union would only be the first mile on a million mile "road" into EU membership.

It may also be that the simple wearing of a head-covering by the TR leaders' wives worries certain EU countries about TR's secular society.

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
04/08/2011 14:31

re 17 Brother



Thanks for taking the time to read the report and comment... as ever with Cyprus it seems to be more important about who concedes. but the 'rump' RoC have the legal upper-hand and other nations in the EU have gleefully seized upon TR's non compliance to an agreement they signed as a good reason to stall accession.



I don't see this as a good thing for Cypriots in general.. a TR in the EU would mean that Cypriots , Turks or Greeks would ( ultimately) HAVE the right to live / work / trade where-ever they choose ..