Turkey: slip sliding away

We have often expressed our support for Turkey's membership of the EU. But we are alarmed by the latest position taken by the European Council which actually allows Turkey to get away with a light pat on the shoulders and a strange "now don't be naughty Turkey or Daddy will cry..."

We are amazed that the EU has allowed Turkey to run roughshod and show utter disrespect for Cyprus, just because it is small. If the morning shows the kind of day, then negotiations with Turkey are not going to be as tough as some peopled have said they will be. The EU will cave in every time Turkey refuses to budge.

This is dangerous. It means that Turkey could be let into the EU without really implementing the necessary changes that would turn it into a democracy with which we all could live with.

What was Malta's position in the Council? Did it take up the Cypriot position or did it side with Turkey?

The facts of the matter need to be stated. Turkey has forcibly divided the island of Cyprus. The so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) recognised by Turkey and no-one else is an illegal entity. The Turkish occupation and partition of Cyprus is condemned by the EU, the UN and the practically by all other bodies in the world.

Turkey has a customs union with the EU. On July 26 an 'adaptation agreement' was signed extending the customs union to the 10 new member states. At the same time Turkey issued a statement underlining that the signature of the agreement does not amount to any form of recognition of the Republic of Cyprus.

This means that Turkey would consider the government in Nicosia as having jurisdiction only over the southern part of the island. The international community regards the same government as representing the whole of the island. Indeed the membership agreement between the EU and Cyprus covers the whole island.

The EU Council has made it clear that Turkey's declaration on Cyprus is unilateral and has no legal effect on Turkey's obligations under the agreement extending the customs union to the 10 new member states. The EU reiterated its position that it recognises only the Republic of Cyprus as a subject of international law.

They called on Turkey to normalise its relations with all the member states as soon as possible. They reminded Turkey that it can only join the EU once it has done so. But then they acted as if they were not ready to back their words by action.

Negotiations with Turkey will nevertheless open on October 3, although Turkey is showing no signs of a compromise over Cyprus. Turkey has started slip sliding away from its harness. Whatever happened to the EU commitment made last December that Turkey will only be allowed to join if it complies with all requirements? Do we take that seriously?

We will be watching the situation carefully to see how our Government reacts to: the implementation of human rights in Turkey; women's rights; the full rights of minorities, particularly the Kurds; the treatment of religious minorities; the treatment of small EU member states; clarification of the issue of the 'Armenian genocide'; progress on the Cyprus question; corruption and the rate of economic development.

That Turkey is big and Muslim is not a drawback. What worries us most is whether it will abide by the rules of the game. We do not exclude that we too may eventually be pressing for a referendum on Turkey's membership if things go wrong. We respect Turks and we want them to be as free and prosperous as we are, not less.