Hans van Baalen: Turkey to blame for no progress in reunification Cyprus - Hoofdinhoud

Hans van Baalen MEP (ALDE/VVD) at the first discussion of the draft 2011 Progress Report on Turkey in the European Parliament made clear that Turkey is to blame for the absence of any progress in the reunification of Cyprus. Van Baalen stated that only facts count when we talk about accession. Turkey has not implemented the Ankara Protocol. It has not paved the way for any solution or even the beginning of a solution on Cyprus.

It has not, as requested by the 2010 Progress Report, withdrawn its occupation forces from the Northern part of the Republic of Cyprus. It has not positvely reacted to the Cyprus proposal to use Farmagusta to facilitate trade between the occupied part of Cyprus and the international community. Furthermore, Turkey said that it will ingnore the Cyprus EU Presidency in the second half of 2012. It is not up to Turkey to decide who represents the EU on the international stage. Apart from Cyprus, Turkey has taken a foreign course which is fundamentally different from that of the EU concerning Iran and Israel. The freedom of worship, conscience and of expression are, although officially guaranteed by the Turkish constitution, not respected in practice. Hans van Baalen agrees that the EU, its Member States and Turkey should maintain good political, economic and cultural relations. However, this is something different than EU membership which is soley judged upon according to the Copenhagen criteria. These are not fullfilled by Turkey. That is a matter of fact.