91998E3551

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3551/98

by Katerina Daskalaki (UPE) to the Commission

(1 December 1998)

Subject: Further Turkish threats against Cyprus

During his recent visit (5 November 1998) to the Turkish-occupied northern sector of Cyprus, the Turkish Prime Minister, Mr Yilmaz, reiterated in a joint press conference with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, that any movement on accession negotiations with Cyprus would meet with the "response" of the incorporation of the occupied territories into Turkey.

Will the Commission - which is also engaging in legal contortions in a bid to provide Turkey with EU funding - say whether and in what way it intends to respond to these threats and whether it will continue to allow a third country to interfere, particularly in such a manner, in negotiations between the Union and an independent republic which is a member of all the major international organizations?

Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(18 December 1998)

The Commission is familiar with the statements referred to by the Honourable Member. As the Honourable Member is aware, Mr Denktash and President Demirel had already signed a joint declaration with a view to gradually integrating the northern part of the island of Cyprus with Turkey, back in January 1997. In July 1998, Turkey and the northern part of the island also signed an association agreement.

In its "Regular report on Turkey's progress towards accession", adopted on 4 November 1998, the Commission gave its opinion on the statements and measures referred to above, namely that they "[were] incompatible with international law as expressed in the relevant UN resolutions, to which the European Union fully subscribes;" the resolutions in question were based on the setting up of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. In the report, the Commission stated the view that "the good-offices mission conducted by the UN Secretary-General with the backing of the UN Security Council and the European Union must have the active support of all the interested parties."

Substantive accession negotiations with Cyprus began on 10 November 1998, in accordance with the agreed timetable. The Commission hopes that the Turkish Cypriot representatives will respond positively to the Greek Cypriot party's proposal that they join the negotiations.

The Commission shares the Council's view that "progress towards accession and towards a just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem will naturally reinforce each other."