MEPs on Turkey: No Accession aim, strict Criteria, calls to Stop. Respect 6/2009 EU Vote +Van Rompuy
EU Parliament refused any "Accession" aim to EU - Turkey negotiations, and stressed that all EU Criteria have to be fully implemented, while several MEPs launched calls to "Stop", "Freeze" or suspend the Talks, reacting strongly to what looked as an attempt to practically overthrow 2009 EU Elections' results, which had boosted parties critical to Turkey's controversial EU bid, by a controversial Resolution prepared in shady circumstances, which, on the contrary, appeared to back the Turkish move. Several MEPs evoked EU President, Herman Van Rompuy's critical stance vis a vis Turkey's EU bid, and a Majority adopted an Amendment asking to "listen to(EU)Citizens' concerns.
Last-minute Amendments and reactions of key mainstream MEPs, moved to curbe towards a clear criticism of Turkey's controversial EU bid and blatant disregard of its commitments, a strange Draft Resolution on EU Enlargment and Turkey, which emerged (earlier than usual and stained by brutal violations of Press Freedom) as an attempt by some to practically ...cancel People's Votes at the recent, June 2009 EU Elections, largely opposed to Turkey's controversial EU bid.
Experienced Strasbourg observers speculated on a last attempt by a group close to out-going EU Enlargment Commissioner Oli Rehn and outgoing EU chair-in-office, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt (both notoriously close to the pro-Turkish lobby)to prevent the incoming New EU Commission (delayed by Barroso, himself an old pro-Turkey lobby fan), the New MEPs resulting from the June 2009 EU Elections, largely critical against Turkey's controversial EU bid, and Heads of State and Government as Sarkozy and Merkel (recently confirmed as powerful Chancellor for 2009-2014 after clearly winning the September 2009 National Elections), as well as the 1st EU President Van Rompuy (reportedly critical against Turkey's EU bid), to start acting, at the same moment that Cyprus' President Christofias wants Turkey to have "consequences" on December 2009 for its persisting failure to respect its 2005 commitment to stop discriminating against EU Member Cyprus-related Ships and AIrplanes' Freedom of movement.
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* A crystal-clear Majority of some 340 against some 250 MEPs strongly REJECTED any "ACCESSION" "view" on TURKEY's controversial EU Negotiations, which, according to EU Council decisions, are, on the contrary, "Open-ended", and can lead into a "Privileged Partnership", particularly if Turkey doesn't strictly fullfil all EU Condiitons, as the New German Govening Coalition's Program for the years 2009-2014 says, (SEE NEWS REPORTS WE RECENTLY SEND FROM BERLIN).
+ At the same time, a large Majority of MEPs adopted an Amendment tabled by EPP (i.e. the party of French President Sarkozy and German Chancelor Merkel), which strengthens EU Conditions by stressing that "a Firm commitment to FULL and RIGOROUS COMPLIANCE with ALL the CRITERIA established at the Copenhagen European Council in 1993 by candidate countries as well as by the EU is Imperative, including for the EUs Integration capacity".
This is significant particularly in view of New German Government, Christian-Liberal coalitions' Program, which, unlike a previous compromise with the Socialists, does not ask, no more, for "EU - Turkey Negotiations to continue", whatever might happen, i.e. opening a possibility to "freeze", suspend or cancel them if Ankara commits gross violations of its EU criteria and values.
* Both converging moves are explained, and further reinforced, by the adoption of also another last-minute Amendment, tabled by the EPP Group, which calls for the EU to "LISTEN TO and ADDRESS CITIZENS' CONCERNS and Questions" on EU Enlargement, as for Turkey's controversial EU bid, stressing that this is "equally Essential" as the need "to present them with clear and comprehensive information".
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The good and bad points of the Resolution :
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All this augments the interest of EU Parliament's final Resolution, inwhich :
* EU Parliament "DEPLORES the CONTINUED NON-FULFILMENT OF COMMITMENTS stemming from the Additional Protocol to the EC-TURKEY Association Agreement, and urges Turkey to proceed to its full, Non-Discriminatory implementation", concerning Cyprus' related Ships and Airplanes' freedom of access to Turkish Seaports.
In this regard, several Key, maistream MEPs, from France, Germany and Cyprus, speaking to EU Parliament and to "EuroFora" in Strasbourg etc., strongly expressed their Countries' will to make Turkey understand that its persisting failure to honour its commitments vis a vis the EU on Cyprus will have consequences from December 2009 (See infra).
* EU Resolution also "calls on the Turkish Government, and all parties concerned, to contribute actively to the swift devising of a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus question". This must be "based on UN SC Resolutions and the Principles on which EU is founded".
* It also "REGRETS ... that the NATO-EU strategic Cooperation extending beyond the ‘Berlin plus’ arrangements continues to be blocked by Turkey’s objections, which has negative consequences for the protection of the EU personnel deployed, and urges Turkey to set aside those objections as soon as possible", (related to Ankara's refusal to recognize EU Member State Cyprus).
- It asks Turkey to : "implement swiftly" a "Judicial reform", and "pointing out (its) crucial importance for the functioning of the Turkish State and Society".
- expresses "Concern" "about the situation in in the area of Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Press",
- "regrets the limited progress made in the are of Freedom of Religion", and urges the government to establish a legal framework in line with the European Convention on Human Rights enabling all Non-Muslim Religious Communities and the Alevi ...to function without undue constraints",
- "encourages the Turkish Government to take concrete measures to address the situation of citizens of Kurdish origin and asks all political forces to support this process",
- "urges the Turkish Government and all parliamentary parties to establish consensus about the formulation and implementation of key reforms", currently stalled.
- "calls on the Turkish Government to intensify the foreign policy coordination with the EU, in particular regarding Iran", where recent moves by PM Erdogan to approach Iran's controversial president, provoked bad impressions at Western capitals and Israel.
- "urges Turkey to fully implement, ..., the existing bilateral re-Admission agreements with (EU) Member States", in order to contain massive illegal immigrants' Human Trafficking.
(etc)
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=> Key MEPs ask to STOP opening CHAPTERS in EU - Turkey Negotiations (See Infra)
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In addition, key MEPs made several interesting Statements, asking to STOP opening new Chapters on EU - Turkey negotiations, until Ankara fullfils its commitments. [ See also INFRA, for concrete details).
Led mainly by France's and Germany's , Cyprus' a.o. MEPs, such statements (often welcomed by APPLAUSE in EU Parliament's Plenary Session in Strasbourg), made even more topical an eventual SARKOZY - CHRISTOFIAS meeting, on the sidelines of Commonwealth's Summit on Friday. (NB)
+ Going further, various MEPs from differend countries and horizons, started also to evoke Sarkozy-Merkel's well known rejection of Turkey's controversial EU bid, adding now also .. EU President VAN ROMPUYs reported statements against that, as well as EU Citizens' concerns (See. infra]
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But:....
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* But, at the same time, that Resolution doesn't even mention the "December 2009" Time Deadline, that the EU had set since 2006 in order to check if Turkey will fullfil, or not, the commitment it took since 2005, at the start of EU Negotiations, to stop discriminating against Cyprus-related Ships and Airplanes.
Amendments which clearly "remind(ed) Turkey that refusal to comply with its commitments towards the EU (on Cyprus-related ships and airplanes' freedom of movement), as prescribed in the ..2006 (EU) Conclusions, will lead to Consequences ...in December 2009", tabled by Cyprus' MEPs, either EPP's Kasulides or AKEL's Hadjigeorgiou, were rejected.
Even another Amendment, tabled by mainstream German, French and Spanish EPP MEPs, referring to "the designated Date", was also rejected, (by an unspecified difference of votes).
* Thus, instead of evoking any Sanction for Turkey's failure to respect its commitments, on the contrary, that controversial Resolution even .. "calls for the opening of the Energy chapter", in EU - Turkey negotiations, making Ankara a gift !
An amendment tabled by mainstream German, French and Spanish EPP MEPs, adding that this should be done only after the "removal of obstacles", (i.e. after Turkey ceases to harass Cyprus' Ships from peacefully exploring Oil-Gaz in Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone, and starts applying Ankara Protocol on Cyprus-related Ships and Airplanes' Freedom of Movement), was rejected, (by an unspecified difference of votes).
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+ Turkey whitewashed for its Responsibility for Cyprus' talks deadlock, by only one (1) vote difference, thanks to ..."Greek Socialist" MEPs+ !..
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* Moreover, Turkey was unexpectedly whitewashed for its responsibilities on Cyprus' Talks' delays and deadlock, (despite the written denunciation made this week by Cyprus' President Christofias), after the Draft Resolution, which initially called on the Turkish Government to contribute actively" to a solution, was ..worsened by an Amendment extending this call to "all parties concerned", (i.e. also on Cyprus' Government) : Initially tabled only by "Greens"' Minority Group, it was surprisingly adopted by only.. "one (1) vote" difference : 286 to 285 !.
This was made possible thanks to the astonishing stance of many "Greek Socialist" MEPs, who, instead of supporting Cyprus, on the contrary, abstained. It was aggravated also by one (1) EPP "Greek" dissident, Mr. Skylakakis from Crete, (HQ of the biggest American US Base in the Mediterranean).
* In addition, the text does a huge .. Publicity to the Anglo-American and Turkish' controversial project of a notoriously too Long, too Expensive and too Dangerous (given risks by EarthQuakes, Clashes, Financial problems, etc) Gaz pipeline "Nabucco", that it "welcomes" as "one of EU's highest energy security priorities", as it claims, (despite several other EU-led Alternatives : See relevant previous NewsReports on this point).
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+ Curiously, the 1st Resolution on EU Enlargement after EU Elections of June 2009, which were notoriously won by parties whch had declared their Opposal to Turkey's controversial EU bid, (fex. in France, Germany, Austria, but also in Bulgaria, the UK, Holland, etc), makes, on the conrtary, a huge Propaganda in favor of EU Enlargement to .. Turkey !
Indeed, that Resolution, instead of anouncing any opposition or criticism against Ankara's controversial demand to enter in Europe, on the contrary, ... "Commends the progress (sic !) that Turkey as a candidate country has made towards fulfilment of the Copenhagen political criteria", and "remains strongly committed to the Enlargement policy", considering that "on the basis of Article 49 of the EU Treaty, ‘[any] European State ... may apply to become a member of the EU".
(Albertini's initial claim that "Turkey made some progress", was changed on Monday in Committee, by a Socialist amendment into a triomphal : EU Parliament "commends the progress that Turkey .. made", without any known reason)...
Thus, it already drops all well-known debates, and Political declarations at the highest EU level, on Turkey's "Non-European" character, without even presentring any argument !
On the contrary, under the Heading : "Enlargment Strategy 2009 of EU Commission" (i.e. of out-going Oli Rehn), that Resolution practically assimilates unquestionably European Countries, as those of "West Balkans' Countries, (and of) Iceland", with the 95% Asiatic "Turkey"..
It even attempts to give a .. Priority to Ankara, by saying that "Turkey has been a candidate country since 1999, Croatia since 2004 and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia since 2005; whereas Albania, Montenegro and Iceland have applied for membership of the EU", i.e. .. ommitting to remind Moroco, a much older case than Turkey's, whose demand to enter into the EU was bluntly rejected by a clear "No"..
Adding obvious Propaganda, it claims, on the occasion of these Countries, Turkey included, that EU Parliament "remains strongly committed to the Enlargement policy, which has proved to be one of the most successful (in Institutional and Economic Crisis ?), ...and has ..contributed to an unprecedented extension of ..Prosperity in Europe, (with an ...unprecedented Crisis in 2008, and galoping Unemployment in 2009-2010, etc), "it is essential to create the conditions needed to ensure .. Future Enlargements", as MEPs elected for the period 2009-2014 say, i.e. threatening all that for soon !..
It doesn't even mention the clear "No" to Turkey's controversial EU bid, declared by Governing Partis in the biggest EU Membe Counntries, as UMP in France and CDU/CSU in Germany, at their Electoral Programs to June 2009 EU Elections ! Neithert he anouncements, made at the highest level, by State and Government Heads in France and Germany, by President Sarkozy and Chancellor Merkel, when they launched together he Campaign for the 2009 European Elections..
Moreover, it was even in the UK and in Holland, etc. that European Citizens surprisingly voted to make former marginal parties grow until they became the No 2 in each country, winning an unprecedented Popularity after simply promissing to be clearly opposed to Turkey's demand to enter in Europe, (fex. UKIP, "Freedom party", etc). Added to big augmentations, sometimes doubling votes received by other parties when they also promised a firm opposition, (as, fex. in Bulgaria, Greece, etc). While everywhere traditionally non-opposed parties changed their stance, by raising, for the 1st time, more strict Conditions than in the past, (as fex. the PP in Spain, or the Liberals in Germany, etc), they immediately won more and more new votes..
As for the recent regressions on Human Rights' problems, such as the worsening of Torture cases, (given the augmentation of reported cases), the persisting Total Impunity of Torturers and even Murderers (recently condemned by ECHR : See previous NewsReports), not even a word !
Signed by a new Italian FAC's chairman, this controversial text, (which was even made worse by a "Compromise Amendment" imposed in secret, Monday evening, on Turkey), was practicaly shaped in an unprecedented shady context (Comp. supra), without EU Citizens being warned at all, in due time, and in a quasi-Empty room (as several MEPs denounced) !
Worse : An EPP leader, (of the Group whose MEPs were, in most cases, elected on a program clearly opposed to Turkey's controversial demand to enter in the EU), reportedly claimed, cultivating "Fatalism" and Defaitism, that this "Group was always divided" (sic) on the issue of EU Enlargement to Turkey ! While, it's well known, that EPP always had a strong Majority against that, opposed to "Socialists", so often favorable to this, that they were accused of "laxism". Make such an erroneous claim, even after the 2009 EU Electoral Campaign, launched and won by EPP over the popular "No to Turkey's accession", during the 1st battle inside EU Parliament on that issue, it's as if someone stumped his own soldiers in the back..
=> In fact, the only Hope for EU Officials not to betray European Citizens who elected them, (via the concerned Governments and at EU Parliament)(given that Text, and other related facts), is :
At least to find an agreement on the fact that Turkey did not fullfil the required Conditions for EU Enlargement, (fex. by disrespecting Human Rights, by refusing to meet the commitments undertaken for EU Negotiations to start, etc), in order to stop, (fex. "freeze", postpone, cancel or change) at last, these controversial negotiations, which cost too much to EU Tax-payers, (Poor included), while the Economic Crisis augments the urgent need to make economies in order to become able to Invest in Europe in activiies of high productivity in sectors pointing to the Future.
Several EuroMEPs, Parti leaders, Governments of EU Member Countries, etc., recently showed that they were ready and would like to act in this direction, (not only in France and Germany, but also elsewhere). But the question obviously is if they will really do so, in an efficient and serious way, (i.e. not merely symbolic or superficial), before EU Citizens start thinking that those whom they elected, seem ready to betray them.
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Strange, undemocratic circumstances :
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The unexpetedly controversial Resolution was practically obtained by strange, shady manoeuvers, in exceptionally undemocratic circumstances. Among many other Facts :
+ The Draft was debated and voted initially at EU Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, a Monday Evening in Strasbourg, the 1st Day at the beginning of the Weekly Session in Strasbourg, when many MEPs had not yet enough Time to arrive in Strasbourg.
+ All Critical Amendments (many on Cyprus and Human Rights) were technically "droped", without even any discussion, nor any vote (!), merely because they were considered "incompatible" with one and only "Compromise Amendment", Secretly negotiated between only a Few MEPs, without any Transparency : You couldn't find its text, nor even a mention of its existence, at any of the usual normal areas at the website, the distribution service, etc., unless you were present at that meeting, where it appeared only at the last minute !
+ A Permanent European Correspondent, the only Cyprus and Greece-related Journalist permanently based in Strasbourg to follow EU Parliament, Council of Europe, European Court of Human Rights, etc. (+selectively UNO at nearby Geneva, Burgenstock, etc), for more than 16 Years (+9/1993-2009), was, suddenly assaulted by 4 Gorilas - local "Security Guards", brutally hindered even to appoach the Press Accreditation Desk at the entrance, where he used to go for Decades, Discriminated, Slandered, Humiliated, submitted into Inhuman and Degrading Treatments, obliged (by orders, dilatory manoeuvers, false promises, lies, etc) to stay for many Hours even at the Rain, standing, without any chair or a drop of water to drink, facing provocations, insults, defamation, harassment, etc, and finally totally hindered to continue his work as a 16 Years Journalist, (despite many Thousands of Publications up to the last Day, to several Media, and brutally obstructing him even to present a New Accreditation Letter from another Media !), without any warning. All this was done with a Total Arbitrariness, without even showing any Decision, without even telling Who decided such a blatant Violation of Freedom of Press against a Journalist notoriously covering Cyprus' and other Political and Human Rights issues, without even saying Why, for which motives, for how long, and what should be done, while also totally obstructing any contact to EU Parliament's Press Service, holding their victim, among 4 or 5 Gorilas, far away from the Press Accreditation Desk, to the astonishment of many collegues and passers by.
Shortly before the Journalist was aggressed by 4 Gorilas, he crosssed, neaby, the Brittish conservative MEP Geoffrey Van Orden, who, notoriously is ...the most pro-Turkish MEP in the entire Parliament, for Decades, (the only one to have openly justified even atrocious killings of helpless Women in Turkish Prisons back in 2000), and who was alone to launch, later this week in Strasbourg, the worst pro-Turkish attacks against Cyprus, during the EU Enlargement Debate !...
=> All Facts clearly indicate a politically motivated sly trap.
European/International Federation of Journalist's Secretary General, AIdan White, - who was informed and personally witnessed a large part of the Brutal behavior and Total Arbitrariness of the "Gorilas" surrounding and obstucting their Victim Journalist from any access to the Information Sources, while Turkey's controversial Draft Resolution was 1st debated and voted, behind closed doors, at the Foreign Affairs Committee, in the absence of most MEPs- said that he was "shocked", and "deeply disapointed", after vainly trying to talk to the "Gorilas", and after he saw that even an Agreement that he had got with EU Parliament's Press Director, to let free access to the Press Center, was finally proved to be either a blatant lie, or brutaly hindered to be respected.
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=> MEP's DEBATES + 1st Reactions after the vote : ------------------------------------------------
Such Contradictions, and unacceptable events, provoked manifold Criticism from many MEPs of various Political horizons and Countries during the Debates, which was strengthened further also by statements made after the Votes : ------------------------
- "On Turkey, remain many concerns, over Human Rights, the ongoing Blockade of Armenia, Religious freedoms and the refusal to admit Cypriot ships to Turkish ports. It was also regrettable, in my mind, that Turkey recently invited to the OIC summit in Istanbul President Bashir of Sudan, a man indicted by the International Criminal Court for the horrors of Darfur", denounced British Conservative MEP Charles Tannock, on behalf of the ECR Group.
- EU "must exert Pressure on Turkey to keep the commitments it has undertaken", and "mainly the Ankara Protocol, which relates to the recognition of Cyprus' Republic", without "challenging Rights resulting from International Law", said Greek MEP Nicos Chountis, on behalf of the EuroLeft Group. "There are also problems for the respect of Democratic Rights and Trade Union's Freedoms in Turkey, as they were recently highlighted by the prosecution and trial of Turkish Trade Unionists in Smyrna", he added.
- Even this Resolution clearly says that "there are many things which have yet to be done", in Turkey, "on Human Rights, Freedom of Expression and Religious Freedom, as well as on Turkey's general behavior on Justice system", observed Greek MEP Nicolas Salavracos, on behalf of the EFD Group.
+ "But its is clear that Turkey, recently, tries to dominate the area of Middle East and Caucasus, in a way contrary to EU's principles", Salavracos denounced, (concerning also Ankara's notorious sympathies to Tchechnyan terrorists, military bombardments and invasions at Northern Iraq, etc. "Turkey's behavior on the issue of Iran, is typical, and entirely opposite to EU's Foreign Policy", as well as "on its commitments stemming from Ankara's Protocol" on Cyprus. "8 Chapters" of EU negotiations "remain yet to be examined, together with Turkey", on which, "it'is not yet ready to take any Date for opening negotiations with the EU", Salavracos concluded.
- "EU President, Van Rompuy, was quite right, when he said in 2004, that Turkey does not belong to Europe, and it will never belong to Europe, because, otherwise, "Turkey will undermine the Fundamental values of the European Union", stressed Dutch MEP Barry Madlener
Netherlands' "Freedom Party, completely agrees with EU President Van Rompuy's objections of principle against Turkey''s accession to the EU", he stressed. Even after taking a plumb job, nobody can deny what he said before, added.the MEP, who asked for "Freedom of Expression" to be respected also for those who critcize "Islamist ideology", as he said.
=> "There is only one correct reply to Turkey's scandalous behavior, and that's to STOP the Negotiations" with the EU, underlined the new Dutch MEP, asking "to be honest with the Turks, as German Chancellor Merkel and French President Sarkozy, as well as EU President Van Rompuy" : "So, we (EU) must STOP Negotiations with Turkey". In fact, "there are multiple reasons to say "No" to Turkey", he concluded, (applauded).
- "We should not give False Hopes to some countries" which can't cope : Fex. "on Turkey we (EU) must see that Copenhagen Criteria on Freedom of Expression, Democarcy, Rule of Law, and Religious Freedom, are really respected : We (EU) cannot make any compromise on our values", stressed mainstream German ChristianDemocrat MEP Elmar Brosk, accusing Socialist and "Green" MEPs to underestimate the fundamental importance of Copenhagen Criteria for Europe.
- On Enlargement, "we have left behind the Hearts and Minds of the People", observed Romanian SocialDemocrat MEP Adrian Severin. - "We have to revisit the problem issue of our Identity, our Cultural and Geopolitical Identity, in order to know exactly what the Limits of our Enlargement are", he concluded, (curiously approaching ChristianDemocrat French President Sarkozy's initial vocabulary)..
=> "Perhaps ..we should be a little bit more imaginative in trying to allow for some kind of "Gradual Integration" of a country for which full integration is not to be envisaged", at least not in the short term, he proposed, (using also a similar idea to "Privileged Partnership").
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- "Turkey .. insists in the Occupation of a large part of Cyprus, has revendications in the Aegean Sea, keeps Thousands of Prisoners among Kurds, Journalists, etc... We are against Enlargement.. struggling together with the Peoples of Europe, against Imperialism", said Greek MEP Babis Angourakis of EuroLeft.
- "We have to STOP this mascerade on accession of Turkey", said Belgian MEP van Claeys. "We have to stop minimizing the problems. We really have to face the reality : We have been witnessing, all these 5 Years, what it gives to have Turkey on accession negotiations : Turkey is one of the most anti-Western and anti-Democratic Countries, with an Islamic State, where Freedom of Expression has no perspectives. We are in favor not of a "closed", as someone claimed, but for a European concept of Europe. As (recently appointed EU President) Van Rompuy said : Turkey was never part of Europe, and will NEVER be !".
- Enlargement was not led in a satisfactory way", "it increases complexity, and difficulties". Meanwhle, "we need to get Citizens behind us, and for this, to have a Logic policy", advised German Liberal MEP Alexander Lambsdorf.
- "In a recent Euro-barometer, EU Citizens voted 28% for, and 59% against Turkey's accession into the EU. These are clear Numbers, that Politicians cannot ignore, unless to widen the gap vis a vis Citizens", observed Dutch MEP Peter van Dalen.
- "As (EU President)van Rompuy said, Turkey is not located in Europe, and is no part of EU's History, in which Christianism, Enlightnment, and the Democratic Nation-State, have fixed the Religious, Cultural and Political Landscape. A Privileged Partership would better associate the best 2 parts of the worlds. .. Time for Clarity : - STOP with Accession Negotiaions. START with Negotiations for a Privileged Partrnership : Let that be the Enlargment Stratey of 2010", van Dalen concluded.
- "It's amazing how the Parliament has let itself to be drag" by an "enlargment optimism" desired by EU Commissioner Oli Rehn..; Why should we compliment Turkey ? ...We'd better look at our Duties to respresent the People of the EU. We have to look at what the People wants. We only reach the People if we are honest about our assessments about the extension to which candidate countries really comply with Copenhagen Criteria", ssid Dutch MEP Bastian Belder (EFD)
- "It's frightebing how Democratically deficient is the EU, when it comes to Tukey's accession !", stressed Austrian MEP Franz Obemayr.
- "Most of our Citizens are opposed to Turkey's acceession, but over the heads of our Citizens hangs this rosy picture that, despite everything, EU negotiations continue. The suggesion is that there is no immediate acceession. But, between 2007 and 2012 Turkey will get 2,26 Billion Euros, and that''s not what EU Citizens want. Money comes mainly from net payer countries whose Citizens don't want Turkey's accesssion", he denounced.
- "This is obviously a rather US American interest. Turkey will cause a number of Conflicts that they will have to be solved by the EU. Now, despite Turkey's participation to an Eurovision song contest, a honored former President of Germany had clearly defined Europe, based on 3 Hills : Akropolis, for Greek Humanism, Rome's Capitol for European State Culture, and on Golgotha for Christianism of the Western World", he Obermayr concluded.
Only Brittish conservative MEP Geoffrey Van Orden was 100% for Turkey's accession to the EU, launching a series of verbal atacks against its critics, and mainly Cyprus : - "In relation to Cyprus, ... a distorted version of recent history has unfortunately become the accepted wisdom", he accused all other MEPs.
Van Orden was anxious to solve the 35 Years old Cyprus' issue in a few Months time, "before another Turkish Cupriot leadership is chosen on April 2010 : - "There is a real opportunity between now and the presidential elections in Northern Cyprus ( as he called the Occupied Territories of Cyprus, held by Ankara's Invasion Army) in April which should be seized, and this is a matter for all sides", he said. Reminding the controversial 5th version of a failed UNO Secretariat's Plan, prepared with the participation of UK/USA Officials, but in the absence of any European envoy, with the result tio be accused of neglecting, Van Orden recalled that, obviously, Turkish Cypriots agreed .. in April 2004. (while) & It was rejected by the South", as he called the legitimate, internationally recognized, Republic of Cyprus. And he found that "EU has a moral (sic !) duty" to satisfy Turkey's controversial demand to open for direct trade the Occupied Territories of Cyprus, from which some 200.000 Greek Cypriot Refugees have been brutally forced to flee, their Family Homes and private properties usurpated by the illegal occupation regime, and hindered to return, by Ankara's Foreign Occupation Army. He called on Representatives of EU Citizens, to better "treat Turkish interests", threatening them that, otherwise, they risk to "encourage ... wrong tendencies in Turkey itself", implying that now Ankara would follow a "right" tendency, despite its persistent failure to comply with its commitments. (See aboveà) But, even Van Orden was "deeply concerned about Migration problems" imported from Turkey, as "many of us" (MEPs), as he said. - "This is an aspect of our negotiations with Turkey that will have to be dealt with in a particular and Robust way", he warned Ankara.
However, another Brittish MEP, William (The Earl of) Dartmouth (of the EFD Group), denounced, on the contrary, the fact that, while "rich countries, for example Norway and Switzerland, simply do not want to join the EU", on the contrary, some propose for EU membership only "poor" countries as Turkey, etc., whose only "European Dream", "is that they will receive subsidies". "This situation is unstable, untenable and unsustainable" : "In fact you are driving (the EU) towards Economic Chaos in the future", he warned Oli Rhen.
- "Most People would be impressed by the fact that only 3% of the land mass of Turkey is in the continent of Europe at all, and this proposition that Turkey should become a full member of the European Union is, on Geographical grounds, completely Bizarre", added Earl of Dartmouth.
+ Moreover, Italian MEP Mario Borghezio (EFD), warned that, those who push to enlarge the EU to Turkey, may endanger Europe's "Stability" :
- "A few days ago, Turkish PM Erdogan claimed that he felt badly in relation to Israeli PM Netanyahu, but "much better" when he's near Bashir, the Sudanese President who is under investigation for accusations of "Crimes against Humanity", he denounced. - "If Turkey enters in Europe, we (EU) shall have had as neighbors : Iran, Iraq and Syria", Borghezio warned. "It's better to link Turkey to Europe with a "Privileged Partnership", he proposed.
- In the meantime, "there is a worrying trend of de-occidentalisation in Turkey, in very advanced state : Fex. measures to separate men from women in pools, restrictions of the freedom of the political opposition, imposition of heavy fines, and so on, while, in fact, the majority of the Turkish people is against the entry of Turkey in the EU. "Turks are Turks", he concluded.
- "It's a matter of Credibility for the EU to see that its Conditions are really fullfilled with acts, and not only words : .. Concerning Turkey, there are 2 serious elements : It's by normalising its relations with Cyprus, and by stopping overflight on Greek territory by its Military airplanes that it (Ankara) could accelerate its accession process", said Greek MEP Georges Cumutsakos (EPP).
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- But, if things go like this, (i.e. as the controversial Resolution claims that Turkey would have made some "progres"), then, "the only good news, for EU Citizens, is that, at least in 2009 there will be no EU Enlargement !", joked Polish MEP Krzysztof Lisek (PPE).
- Refering to Rehn and Bildt's remark that "Lisbon Treaty opens a new era to EU Enlargeent", EU Parliament's Security and Defence Committee President, French MEP Arnould Danjean, (EPP), stressed that this should be done "with realism and lucidity, not as race", in order to avoid provoking "Incomprehension, or even Suspicion, in our Public Opinions, as well as False Illusions in certain countries, inciting them to limit themselves merely into words and a few "cosmetic" changes, instead of profound reforms".
- "On Turkey, before speculating about a highly Hypothetical future, ... I simply observe that, for the 2nd year in a row, EU Commission noted that there was No progres on the Ankara Protocol, (about stoping obstruction of EU Member Cyprus-related Ships and Airplanes' Freedom of movement)".
=> In consequence, "this does not allow to open new Chapters of negotiation", the mainstream MEP of the Governing UMP party warned Ankara, (creating a Surprise among other MEPs, but attracting also Applause)...
- "I am disappointed by the fact that issues for which Turkey should be criticized, are abused now (in the controversial Resolution in order, on the contrary, to upgrade Turkey's position on its EU accession bid", denounced Cyprus' Socialist MEP Kyriakos Mavronicolas, EU Parliament's Security and Defence Committee's vice-President, and former Minister.
- "It's since 2006 that Turkey has a commitment to recognize Cyprus, to apply the Ankara Protocol, and to help solve Cyprus issue. But it hasn't done none of that. On the contrary, EU talks are exploited in order to make an attempt to open the Energy Chapter" (See supra), he criticized. "But, Cyprus, as a small State, has to protect its interests and ask Sanctions vis a vis Turkey. One among them is to STOP opening Chapters" , Mavronikolas warned.
+ Reacting after the final vote, Bulgarian MEP Dmitri Stoyanov, denouncent inter alia that "Turkey has comitted and still commits Genocide, and is even linked to Terrorist Networks", as he said, (probably referring to some Mafia-like Turkish networks extending in certain areas of Bulgaria, as he had earlier observed]
- Finnish Liberal MEP Hannu Takkula stressed the need for Turkey to "respect Human Rights", adding that "I don't think that it will happen during a Life-time !"..
- German ChristianDemocrat MEP Martinn Kastler, said that "Turkey has first to show that it respects its EU commitments, but this is not the case actually", he denounced.
-----------------------------------------------------
+ More MEPs continued to react critically, adding their voices to various, growing reactions after a final vote on a controversial Resolution, prepared in controversial circumstances (See above),
* One of the most topical Criticisms came from Austrian MEP Franz Obermayr : - "EU Commission continues further accession negotiations with Turkey, without taking into account neither the objections of several EU Member States, nor what EU President Van Rompuy has said, i.e. that "Turkey is not part of Europe, and will never become a part of Europe". And that the Universal Values, that Europe defends, founded on Christian values, would be compromised by the entry of such a big Islamic country as Turkey. So, I ask you, will EU Comisssion at least take into account EU Citizens' legitimate concerns ?", he asked Barroso.
- EU Commission's President simply replied that, by continuing EU - Turkey negotiations he simply applies a "mandate given by all EU Member States, unanimously", as he stressed : Something which obviously leaves ground for a different future if one, two or more EU Member Statess start to object on Turkey's controversial EU bid.
As for EU President, Herman Van Rompuy's views vis a vis Turkey, Barroso, refusing even to "comment" them, merely said that he (Van Rompuy) ;will also have to "respect the mandate that he receives from (EU) Member States"..;
But, significantly, Barroso forgot 1 out of the 3 factors cited in Obermayr's question : EU Citizens !..
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
=>Strong Reactions by key-MEPS (+ Sarkozy - Christofias meeting ?) :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ Moreover, strong reactions by mainstream, key-EuroMPs, speaking to "EuroFora" after the Thursday afternoon votes in Strasbourg, were clearly critical vis-a-vis Turkey, pointly mainly to the December 2009 EU Council :
=> And, "in the EU Parliament, some may say what they like, but, at the end of the day, Decisions are taken by the EU Council and its Member States", Danjean warned.
Meanwhile, French President Sarkozy just left for an exceptionnal visit to the ... Commonwealth Summit, at the other side of the Globe, at Trinidad-and-Tobago, where he will be on Friday, 27 November, together with Cyprus' President Demetres Christofias...
This fits another converging fact : Contrary to an inaccurate "Simerini" report from Brussels, Cyprus' Governing Party AKEL's Top MEP, Takis Hadjigeorgiou, speaking to "EuroFora", confirmed that in an earlier declaration he made during EU Parliament's weekly Plenary Session in Strasbourg, he clearly warned Turkey that, "as long as Turkey doesn't respect its commitments, and doesn't lift its discriminating obstacles against Cyprus by recognizing it, Cyprus cannot agree to the opening of any (EU negotiation's) Chapter".
- "We shall continue our efforts and shal fight up to the end (i.e. December 2009's EU Council). This was only a Step, not the entire Road", stressed to "EuroFora" the Top MEP representing Cyprus' Governing party.
- It's clear that Turkey does not really respect European Court of Human Rights' judgements, does not apply the Ankara Protocol but continues discriminating against Cyprus' Ships, that she also harasses when they peacefully explore Cyprus' exclusive Economic zone for Oil-Gaz. That's why "Cyprus cannot consent to the opening of the Energy Chapter", MEP Antigoni Pericleous-Papadopoulou, of the Governing Coalition's party DHKO, told "EuroFora" that she stressed in a Letter to EU Commissioner Oli Rehn.
Warning him that, otherwise, "by insisting to open that chapter", he obviously risked to extend even further "Turkey's intransigeance and impunity".
Even softly-speaking usually, Head of Greece's ChristianDemocrat/EPP Delegation MEP, former Minister of Education and Culture, Marietta Gianakou, was led to warn that, despite supporting EU's Enlargment, people "start yet to have DOUBTS about he Chanllenges faced by our EU common Principles"..
-----------------------
BILDT tries to make MEPs afraid that Turkey might go away...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In reply to MEP's concerns, Swedish EU Chairman in office, Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, admitted that "the Magnitude of the transformation (needed by) Turkey has not escaped us either", that "are all aware that there are those in our respective public opinions that would prefer just to shut the door, hoping that the issue will go away, and who opt for a more closed idea of Europe", as he said, while it "will have to travel a long and difficult road of reforms".
But Bildt tried to make MEPs fear that Ankara, if it doesn't enter into the EU, might turn towards the Islamic world : - "Were that door to be shut, other doors would immediately open up to other forces, and we might well see those parts ...moving off in directions that over time will have negative consequences for us all", he threatened,
On the "ongoing talks on the reUnification of Cyprus", which are of "obvious significance", Bildt simply "urged" "President Christofias and Mr Talat", "to move forward towards a comprehensive solution on the basis of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality in accordance with the relevant UN SC Resolutions". "'The importance of this can hardly be exaggerated", he added.
But he curiously avoided any reference to Turkey's responsibilities to help find a solution, despite more than 40.000 Turkish soldiers occypuing the norther part of Cyprus..
+ There are "fundamental reforms under way in Turkey on the Kurdish question", Bildt claimed also, expecting that, if they "succeed," they "would bring the country much closer to our European standards in areas of fundamental importance"
Out-going, controversial EU Commissioner on Enlargemnt, Finnish Socialist Oli Rehn, claimed that he has "seen steady progress in Turkey". He spoke about a "democratic opening to resilve the Kurdish question", without giving concrete details, while recently many Children and even freshly elected Mayors were reportedly arrested in Turkey. Without even a drop of gaz or oil, "Turkey plays a key role in Energy Security", Oli Rehn claimed, apparently referring to the Anglo-American and Turkish project for a too long, too expensive, and too dangerous gaz/oil pipeline, (facing risks of Earthquakes, Clashes, and Financial burdens, etc). As well as to "the Dialogue between Civilisations", as he added, probably referring to Turkish PM Erdogan's controversial deals with the Iranian President, which provoked reactions in Western capitals and Israel.
- "But Turkey still has a long way to go. Besides reforms, we expect Turkey to ensure full implementation of the Ankara Protocol and to make progress towards the normalisation of relations with Cyprus", EU Commissioner warned Ankara.
--------------
- "We (MEPs) should be happy after the ratification of Lisbon Treaty and the appointments of an EU President and Foreign Minister, but, I don't know why there is this FEELING OF UNEASINESS, a Lack of enthousiasm, ... and this EMPTY room", critically observed French Governing UMP's EuroMP Jean-Pierre Audy.
- "An extremely Worrying" fact for the EU is also a "Disappointing" ambiance, and an "Empty" room indeed, added also Top French EuroMP, former Minister of Justice, Mrs Rachida Dati, (notoriously close to President Sarkozy).
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People in Europe and the World expect from CoE to make a succes of its "Monitoring" for Human Rights and Democracy, despite difficulties, said Finland's President Tarja Halonen to "EuroFora" at a crucial moment for the mecanism built 15 years ago by the paneuropean organization which celebrates its 60th Anniversary in 2009.
Halonen, known as "Mother" of CoE's "Monitoring" mecanism, a long-time MEP and former Foreign Minister before becoming Finland's President, holds a long experience in the mattter, after also serving twice as CoE and EU Chairwoman in the past. That's why she is well placed to judge how CoE's "monitoring" should deal today with some crucial issues of importance both to CoE and to the EU.
The move came just a Month before a crucial, last visit to Turkey, scheduled for June, by the President of CoE''s "Monitoring" Committee, Ukranian MEP Serge Holovaty, to finalize his Report on Ankara, the CoE Member State with the longest Monitoring procedure. From its results depends its overall credibility.
This is a Test-case, because, in fact, it's in order to avoid Sanctions threatened against Turkey by a CoE's Assembly's April 1995 Resolution for grave Human Rights violations, Democracy gaps, the continuing Military Occupation in Cyprus, the unresolved Kurdish problem, Aegean differend with Greece, etc., that MEPs decided to create, for the 1st time on April 1996, a "Monitoring" proces, allegedly destinated to check, without excluding Countries who did not fulfill all CoE's standards.
In the Past, the obliged withdrawal of Greece's Military regime and of its "Civil" cover-up out of the CoE had helped bring back Democracy in 1974. But, on the contrary, since April 1996, the idea was to "monitor" Human Rights' respect while keeping most concerned Countries inside the CoE. After Turkey's oldest example, this was extended also to several former "Eastern" European Countries, even if CoE's Assembly has imposed to some of them (fex. Ukraine, Russia, etc., after Belarus, Serbia, etc) various "Sanctions", that Ankara always avoided. Curiously more succesful even than .. USA itself, (a CoE "Observer" since 1995), which has been at least threatened with sanctions some years ago..
EU-effects of CoE's Monitoring process became obvious between 2001-2008, since the "closure" of this procedure, when CoE felt that a Country had met most of its Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law obligations, (i.e. the "Copenhagen Criteria" for the EU), helped trigger Negotiations with the EU for "Accession" or other closer relations : This occured already before the 2004 and 2007 EU Enlargements to former "Eastern" European Countries, as well as for the commencement of "accession" negotiations with Croatia, and of "open-ended" negotiations with Turkey in 2005.
But a stricking new development are Holovaty's recent findings that on core Human Rights issues as Torture and Freedom of Expression, Turkey, even "5 Years after" CoE closed its "Monitoring", back in 2004, inciting EU to start accession Negotiations in 2005, still presents grave problems.
His findings are of crucial importance after a 2008 CoE Resolution called, "if need be", to "seriously consider the possibility of Re-Opening the Monitoring procedure for Turkey" : A move which might affect Ankara's controversial EU bid, since EU Accession Negotiations are based on the Hypothesis that the Candidate fullfils the "Copenhagen Criteria" (See above)..
-------------------------
Holovaty expressed his will to check "Matters still Outstanding" and those that he "didn't have an opportunity to discuss" at an earlier visit this year, "in order to discuss the more complex issues in greater depth", at his forthcoming New Visit to Ankara, before the December 2009 EU Summit. This is all based on the 2004 CoE Resolution which stresses that, CoE "will continue.. post-monitoring Dialogue with the Turkish authorities,...in addition to a 12-points list,..and on any Other Matter that might arise in connection with Turkey’s Obligations as a CoE member state".
CoE's Resolution also asks from Turkey "to secure the proper Implementation of Judgements, particularly in the Cyprus v. Turkey InterState case", of 2001, which concerns also the plight of many Hundreds of MISSING People. It adds Turkey's obligations to "execute" ECHR's Judgements in the Loizidou case,..and in particular adopt General Measures to avoid repetition or continuation of Violations found by the Court" to the detriment of Refugees.
Nevertheless, Holovaty said to "EuroFora" that "MISSING" persons,"might be included" and cannot be excluded, but he has yet to examine the situation "to find out which issues will be raised" to the Turkish Government.
Therefore, "EuroFora" asked Halonen, as the Historic "Mother" of CoE's Monitoring mecanism, if she thought that, "whenever there are grave Human Rights Violations, as fex. "MISSING" persons, attested even by ECHR's judgements, they should be always checked by a Monitoring process. Or could they be forgotten ?"
- "We (CoE) must be, at the same time, Fair, Realistic, but not in the mind that "now we have Forgotten", etc., replied to "EuroFora"'s question Halonen, speaking as a matter of general principle.
- "When we think of those People that are suffering from the lack of Democracy, of Human Rights, and of the Rule of Law", "we should find a base on how to deal with the (Monitoring) system more rapidly"', she stressed.
- "Sometimes it's very difficult to combine Transparency and Effectivenes together, particularly in this specific case", she went on to say. But, "I have not found a (CoE Member) Country who could be insensitive in this sens", Halonen answered concerning grave Human Rights violations attested by the ECHR.
- "I have no ready-made answer. I have the expectations that you, in the CoE, will, step by step, find the different types of the monitoring systems."
Also "because this is a part of the UN's Post-Conflict system, (fex. when it comes to Cyprus' MISSING persons), and it's a more Global system". So that, "If we make a succes in Europe, the others will follow", throughout the World. "But they expect that we (Europe) are this opportunity, this Opportunity to make a Succes", Halonen concluded.
In addition, she advised to extend CoE's Monitoring to all its 47 Member States, "because, as long as we hear that, all these monitoring systems are "OK for the neighbor, but not for me", "it's very difficult" to understand. Something which could make easier to Compare...
Finnish MEP Jaako Laakso, former CoE Rapporteur on the Occupied Territories of Cyprus and one of the 5 Signatories of the Historic CoE's call to create the "MONITORING" mecanism since 1996, was more specific : - "We (CoE Assembly) have to find a way for the issue of Cyprus' MISSING People to be better followed", he stressed, anouncing his intention to "speak to Mr. Holovaty" about that. "There might be also other ways", added Laakso.
- The 2008 "Year had been a very Bad one for Turkey with regard to Human Rights in general, and Freedom of Expression in particular", denounced, meanwhile, Holovaty's preliminary Post-Monitoringh Draft Report by Holovaty, published by the CoE on April 2009.
"Amnesty International believes that freedom of expression is not guaranteed given the various articles of the Criminal Code that restrict it. .. "For example, 1,300 Websites are said to have been closed down by the (Turkish) authorities in 2008" ! While "the new Turkish Criminal Code was used to bring a total of 1,072 proceedings between June 2005 and April 2008, and led to the conviction of 192 people", for expressing views. "Representatives of the Özgür Gündem newspaper, which specialises in Kurdish affairs, ..complained about Numerous Attacks on their Freedom of Expression ...as was everyone who advocated a settlement to the question by means other than the intervention of the army" "According to their figures, 19 Newspapers had been suspended 43 times between 4 August 2006 and 4 November 2008" !...
Moreover, on 2008, CoE's "Ministers adopted its 4rth Resolution on the execution of the judgments of the ECHR, ...and outstanding issues regarding 175 Judgements and decisions relating to Turkey delivered between 1996 and 2008... concerning Deaths resulting from the excessive use of force by members of the Security forces, the failure to protect the right to life, the DIisappearance and/or death of individuals, Ill-Treatment and the Destruction of property". CoE's " Ministers urged the Turkish authorities ...to ensure that members of Security forces of all ranks can be prosecuted without administrative
authorisation" for "serious crimes". Holovaty reminded.
"Nonetheless", Holovaty heard anew of "Several cases of Violence committed last year (2008) by the (Turkish) security forces". Amnesty International speaks of Many Cases of ill-treatment and Torture in the prisons and by the police". "Including, fex."'the death of Engin Ceber, a young man of 29 who died on October 2008 as a result of the TORTURE allegedly inflicted on him by police officers, prison staff and members of the gendarmerie. He was part of a group of people arrested on September 2008 during a demonstration and Press Conference in Istanbul'. Proceedings against suspects are "on-going" in this case.
- " I therefore noted an Obvious Contradiction between the Government’s stated “zero tolerance” policy.... of Torture and other forms of ill-treatment, and the different testimonies given", denounced CoE's Rapporteur. Turkish "authorities must make considerable efforts to guarantee that proper investigations are carried out into allegations of abuses by members of the security forces and that perpetrators are effectively punished" "In this respect, I have requested detailed Statistics on the number of Investigations, acquittals and convictions in cases involving allegations of abuse in order to show the positive impact of the measures taken to date", Holovaty said, repeating a permanently unsatisfied CoE's demand to Turkey since a Decade...
- "The Political Crisis that shook the country in the spring of 2008 highlighted the Weaknesses of the (Turkish) Constitution", which comes from the Military regime of 1982, "and the Urgent Need of Reforms", stressed from the outset CoE's Rapporteur in 2009. In particular, "the ...Democratic functioning of state institutions, including the independence of the judicial system, are crucial", he observes.
But, "the Electoral system and the ways in which it is circumvented do not appear to give those elected complete Legitimacy, and tend to pervert the course of direct universal suffrage", denounces Holovaty, observing that, even 5 Years later, Turkey did not yet change the 10% nationwide Threshold for a party to take any seat, which is "far higher" than the "3%" maximum in Europe and already condemned as contrary to European Standards by the CoE.
+ Moreover, EU Parliament's 2009 Report on Turkey, drafted by Dutch MEP Ria Oomen-Ruijten and adopted in Strasbourg on March, expresses "Concern over the Failure of the (Turkish) Judiciary to prosecute cases of Torture and Ill-treatment, the Number of which is Growing". EU also "is concerned about continuing Hostility and Violence against Minorities" in Turkey. It also "calls on the Turkish Government to launch, as a matter of Priority, a Political Initiatve favouring a lasting Settlement of the Kurdish issue, (while "condemning violence.. and terrorist groups"). EU "regrets that No progress has been made on establishing full, systematic Civilian suprevisory functions over the (Turkish) Military".
The final results of Holovaty's 2nd and last visit to Turkley will be known later this year, and, at any case, before EU's December 2009 Summit.
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