Nicosia, Cyprus. European Affairs Deputy Minister Marilena Raouna said Cyprus will pursue a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship with Turkey during its six-month term holding the Council of the European Union’s rotating presidency. She told the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee that progress in EU-Turkey relations would be gradual, proportionate and reversible.
Raouna outlines approach and conditions
Addressing the committee, Raouna said Turkey’s progress in democracy, the rule of law, fundamental rights and alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy was “worryingly low”. She said commitment to good neighbourly relations and substantial progress on the Cyprus issue remain essential conditions, adding that such progress must take place within the framework of the United Nations.
Raouna said the rules of enlargement apply to everyone without exceptions and described this as an element of the union’s credibility. She also said Cyprus’ six-month term does not constitute a period of activity for relations between the EU and Turkey.
Christodoulides cites negative response from Ankara
Raouna’s comments followed remarks by President Nikos Christodoulides, who said last week that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s response to an invitation to attend an informal meeting of EU member states and neighbouring countries in Cyprus in April was “not positive”.
Christodoulides said he also invited Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to an informal meeting of European foreign ministers in Limassol. He added that he invited Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Mehmet Kemal Bozay, responsible for the country’s relations with the EU, to an informal meeting of the Council of the EU’s general affairs council to be held in Cyprus in the coming months.
Christodoulides said the response from Ankara was negative. He said at the end of last month that Turkey is not excluded from the Republic of Cyprus, but that Turkey must choose whether to insist on its own self-exclusion.
What steps do you think would be needed for EU-Turkey relations to progress in a gradual, proportionate and reversible manner?
