PretzelLogic
03.11.06, 10:27
Papadopoulos burns all bridges
Friday, November 3, 2006
On Tuesday morning, I had the opportunity to talk to Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, who was at the end of his official trip to Ankara. A few individuals who write about politics and the economy in Turkey were also invited.
Mehmet Ali Birand
On Tuesday morning, I had the opportunity to talk to Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, who was at the end of his official trip to Ankara. A few individuals who write about politics and the economy in Turkey were also invited. The minister asked us some questions; he thought receiving official opinions was not enough and deemed it appropriate to learn what the people thought. There were Belgian journalists there, too. It was a very clever method.
Maybe due to my enthusiasm for the Cyprus and European Union issues, I was forced to take most of the time the minister allocated to us. I just said what I felt. I explained the way the Turkish public viewed Cyprus and the EU due to mistaken policies. I noted that if no “fine-tuning” was made before the summit on Dec. 14-15, both sides would lose a great deal. My explanation was like a shouted warning.
I don't know if it will do any good. I did something I had no authority to do. However, after all that's happened, I could not act like a U.N. observer or an international journalist neutral to all sides. I just talked about what I felt and saw.
The most positive aspect of the meeting was the fact that the Belgian minister repeated what he said the night before. He noted that Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos was also responsible for the current state of affairs.
He made a very correct assessment.
He didn't act as if the Cyprus problem only concerned Turkey and that Mr. Papadopoulos had nothing to do with the way things are.
This is very important. Belgium may be a small country, but it has huge clout within the European Union. If it wants to, it can save Turkey from becoming victimized. It can also force Papadopoulos to act.
We are faced with a very amusing affair. Papadopoulos is doing nothing and wants the Turkish side to act. He seems to be waiting for northern Cyprus to be presented to him on a platter. He seems almost angry for being kept waiting for so long.
Some people need to tell Papadopoulos that the real responsibility for the current stalemate lies with him. They need to tell him, “Don't try to play innocent to escape the penalty for what you have done by hiding behind the EU.”
This is what we expect the EU to do.
I got the impression that tiny Belgium may be able to show the other side of the coin to its bigger partners.
Everything postponed to December summit:
Over the past few years, Turkey has been the matter dominating proceedings at the EU's end-of-year summits. We keep on ending the year with a “Turkey summit.”
This year's Dec. 14-15 summit will be no different: We will see another Turkey summit. The question constantly asked is, “Is this it, or will we continue?” The same question will again dominate proceedings.
Should we close the door on Turkey due to Cyprus? Should we temporarily suspend membership negotiations?
Or should we find a consensus agreement to spread the solution of the matter over time?
These questions define an important crossroads for Turkish-EU relations. Since 2000, we have passed at least five or six crossroads; each time a solution was found.
I wonder if there will be a solution at the end of the coming summit. Nothing is certain because there are two points to consider.
One is the short-term opening of ports to Greek Cypriot shipping. The other is a more long-term process of solving the Cyprus issue.
Both are tied to each other.
A final solution depends on Turkey's membership, and opening the ports is part of the final solution.
The only way out is to spread the solution of both matters over time. I don't believe there is any other way. This is why the coming summit is crucial.
Interesting transformation of Babacan:
Those who follow this column know.
Ever since his appointment as Turkey's chief negotiator, I have criticized Ali Babacan's general attitude towards the post. His failure to spend enough time on issues and overseas trips was a serious disadvantage. I had said that he had not spent even a small portion of his energy on EU affairs.
Actually, this observation was not mine. This was what EU institutions and diplomatic sources thought. Turkish bureaucracy gave the same impression, too.
After every such article, Babacan called me to explain why that wasn't the case.
To tell you the truth, I wasn't that hopeful.
A short time ago, the sources that used to criticize him began to sing a different tune.
Bureaucrats who joined Babacan on his European tours, foreign diplomats that met with him, EU officials and Turkish groups interested in the EU begun to say that Babacan had changed.
Compared to the past, he had started to spend more time on EU affairs, they said. He had become more passionate in defending the EU to ministers against the union. They say Babacan is more interested in what's going on in Europe.
Brussels has yet to comment on Babacan's transformation. They have yet to understand him. However, they will get used to it. Let's hope this development did not come too late and that a solution will be found to save us from the current deadlock.
I am also wondering how Babacan's transformation will be reflected in domestic policy. We'll see whether or not Babacan will be able to persuade the government of the seriousness of the situation.
Quelle:
http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=58185
Friday, November 3, 2006
On Tuesday morning, I had the opportunity to talk to Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, who was at the end of his official trip to Ankara. A few individuals who write about politics and the economy in Turkey were also invited.
Mehmet Ali Birand
On Tuesday morning, I had the opportunity to talk to Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, who was at the end of his official trip to Ankara. A few individuals who write about politics and the economy in Turkey were also invited. The minister asked us some questions; he thought receiving official opinions was not enough and deemed it appropriate to learn what the people thought. There were Belgian journalists there, too. It was a very clever method.
Maybe due to my enthusiasm for the Cyprus and European Union issues, I was forced to take most of the time the minister allocated to us. I just said what I felt. I explained the way the Turkish public viewed Cyprus and the EU due to mistaken policies. I noted that if no “fine-tuning” was made before the summit on Dec. 14-15, both sides would lose a great deal. My explanation was like a shouted warning.
I don't know if it will do any good. I did something I had no authority to do. However, after all that's happened, I could not act like a U.N. observer or an international journalist neutral to all sides. I just talked about what I felt and saw.
The most positive aspect of the meeting was the fact that the Belgian minister repeated what he said the night before. He noted that Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos was also responsible for the current state of affairs.
He made a very correct assessment.
He didn't act as if the Cyprus problem only concerned Turkey and that Mr. Papadopoulos had nothing to do with the way things are.
This is very important. Belgium may be a small country, but it has huge clout within the European Union. If it wants to, it can save Turkey from becoming victimized. It can also force Papadopoulos to act.
We are faced with a very amusing affair. Papadopoulos is doing nothing and wants the Turkish side to act. He seems to be waiting for northern Cyprus to be presented to him on a platter. He seems almost angry for being kept waiting for so long.
Some people need to tell Papadopoulos that the real responsibility for the current stalemate lies with him. They need to tell him, “Don't try to play innocent to escape the penalty for what you have done by hiding behind the EU.”
This is what we expect the EU to do.
I got the impression that tiny Belgium may be able to show the other side of the coin to its bigger partners.
Everything postponed to December summit:
Over the past few years, Turkey has been the matter dominating proceedings at the EU's end-of-year summits. We keep on ending the year with a “Turkey summit.”
This year's Dec. 14-15 summit will be no different: We will see another Turkey summit. The question constantly asked is, “Is this it, or will we continue?” The same question will again dominate proceedings.
Should we close the door on Turkey due to Cyprus? Should we temporarily suspend membership negotiations?
Or should we find a consensus agreement to spread the solution of the matter over time?
These questions define an important crossroads for Turkish-EU relations. Since 2000, we have passed at least five or six crossroads; each time a solution was found.
I wonder if there will be a solution at the end of the coming summit. Nothing is certain because there are two points to consider.
One is the short-term opening of ports to Greek Cypriot shipping. The other is a more long-term process of solving the Cyprus issue.
Both are tied to each other.
A final solution depends on Turkey's membership, and opening the ports is part of the final solution.
The only way out is to spread the solution of both matters over time. I don't believe there is any other way. This is why the coming summit is crucial.
Interesting transformation of Babacan:
Those who follow this column know.
Ever since his appointment as Turkey's chief negotiator, I have criticized Ali Babacan's general attitude towards the post. His failure to spend enough time on issues and overseas trips was a serious disadvantage. I had said that he had not spent even a small portion of his energy on EU affairs.
Actually, this observation was not mine. This was what EU institutions and diplomatic sources thought. Turkish bureaucracy gave the same impression, too.
After every such article, Babacan called me to explain why that wasn't the case.
To tell you the truth, I wasn't that hopeful.
A short time ago, the sources that used to criticize him began to sing a different tune.
Bureaucrats who joined Babacan on his European tours, foreign diplomats that met with him, EU officials and Turkish groups interested in the EU begun to say that Babacan had changed.
Compared to the past, he had started to spend more time on EU affairs, they said. He had become more passionate in defending the EU to ministers against the union. They say Babacan is more interested in what's going on in Europe.
Brussels has yet to comment on Babacan's transformation. They have yet to understand him. However, they will get used to it. Let's hope this development did not come too late and that a solution will be found to save us from the current deadlock.
I am also wondering how Babacan's transformation will be reflected in domestic policy. We'll see whether or not Babacan will be able to persuade the government of the seriousness of the situation.
Quelle:
http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=58185