"Turkey is called to start withdrawing its occupation forces soon, on the basis of a specific timeframe and as foreseen in UN resolutions"
European Parliament: solution-Turkish troops
in draft resolution
Ankara should implement the reforms in
practice to meet the political criteria
The European Parliament is unwilling to adopt the Commission’s
‘remission of sins’ granted to Ankara regarding the Cyprus issue. It
asks for another reduction of troops.
An appeal to Ankara to maintain its “constructive stance in the
efforts to reach a solution of the Cyprus issue, on the basis of a fair
solution similar to that of the Annan plan,” is included in the draft
report-resolution of the European Parliament on Turkey, which will be
discussed today in the Committee on Foreign Affairs in Strasbourg. At
the same time, Turkey is called to start withdrawing its occupation
forces soon, on the basis of a specific timeframe and as foreseen in UN
resolutions.
In the section where positions are recorded, it is noted that “the
international community keeps being concerned about the non-recognition
of the Republic of Cyprus from Turkey and the fact that more than 30,000
Turkish troops are stationed in north Cyprus.” The most explicit
exhortations towards Ankara included in the European Parliament
resolution are very close to Nicosia’s wishes despite the relevant
documents on Turkey approved recently by the Commission.
The European Parliament members have the right to submit amendments
to the draft resolution until November 9 and the voting is expected to
take place on December 2, only 15 days before the European Council
meeting during which the heads of state will take the decision for the
beginning or not of accession negotiations with Turkey.
A change of mentality
The draft resolution of the European Parliament includes the major
elements of the regular Commission report and its recommendations on
Turkey, such as the fact that the Commission considers that Turkey has
sufficiently met the Copenhagen criteria, that the Commission will
recommend the suspension of the negotiations, permanent safeguards and
the fact that accession negotiations will be an open-ended process and
the outcome cannot be guaranteed beforehand. At the same time,
references are made to facts, such as the fact that the Theological
School of Halki has not opened yet despite the appeals of the European
Parliament. In the part of the draft resolution where the Commission
welcomes steps that have been made and puts forward its own appeals, it
is believed, among others, that the Turkish authorities ought to
implement the reforms further and in practice to meet the political
criteria. It underlines the need for a change of mentality at all levels
of justice, expresses concern over violence against women and calls on
the Turkish government to allow return to those who wish to their
villages and towns in south-eastern Turkey (Kurdish areas).
The issue of the army
At the same time, it calls on the Turkish government to further
reduce the civil force of the army, to recognize that the international
law prevails over the national law and to put an end to activities
leading to discriminations and difficulties for religious minorities. At
this point, a second reference is being made to the Theological School
of Halki, calling the government to take the first steps as to its
opening.
Finally, the draft resolution reminds the Turkish authorities that
Turkey’s accession course should settle pending legal issues with EU
member-states, including the legal recognition and the settlement of
common interests. This reference may be considered positive for the
Cypriot demands.
What the European Parliament resolution has managed, according to
diplomatic sources, is to adopt a positive attitude towards Ankara
without disregarding vital interests or concerns of member-states and
citizens. As for the latter, in particular, there are several appeals
for information and dialogue."