EU Approves Counter-Declaration On Turkey

by Ulrika Lomas, for LawAndTax-News.com, Brussels

22 September 2005

It emerged on Wednesday that all 25 EU member states including Cyprus have endorsed the European Union counter-declaration to be issued in reply to Turkey's declaration on non-recognition of the Greek-Cypriot Republic.

The European Union had put together a counter-declaration regarding Turkey's refusal to acknowledge the legitimacy of the Greek Cypriot government, stating that it would only be necessary for Turkey to take that step before it accedes to the EU, rather than before talks begin on October 3.

The Cypriot authorities, backed by a number of other member states, had declined to sign the document, and when the seventh draft of the declaration was unveiled on Tuesday the Cypriot government postponed its reply in order to allow Cypriot president Tassos Papadopoulos - who had been travelling back from the UN summit on that day - to read it properly.

In a statement released following signature of the document by all 25 EU member states, the EC announced that:

"Recognition of all member states is a necessary component of the accession process. The EU underlines the importance it attaches to the normalization of relations between Turkey and all EU member states, as soon as possible."

The agreed version includes wording which would defer opening of a number of negotiation chapters if Turkey does not open its ports and airports to Cypriot ships and planes by 2006, and which sets up a review of progress on recognition in 2006.

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