1. IZMIR UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS
THE ROLE OF CYPRUS CONFLICT IN TURKEY‘S EUROPEAN UNION
MEMBERSHİP NEGOTIATIONS: POLICIES OF GREECE, UNITED
KINGDOM AND TURKEY
IREU 308 - TURKEY EU RELATIONS
EMRE ÇETİNKAYA -20110203104
15.05.2013

2. THE ROLE OF CYPRUS CONFLICT IN TURKEY‘S EUROPEAN
UNION MEMBERSHİP NEGOTIATIONS: POLICIES OF GREECE,
UNITED KINGDOM AND TURKEY
First of all, I want to give a brief historical background of Cyprus. Cyprus Island, which
is located in Mediterranean sea was conqured by Ottoman Empire in 1571. However, when
Ottomans were defeated by Russians in the 93 war, they wanted to prevent Russians from
going forward and asked for the help of British to whom they gave Cyprus temporarily.
Political improvements and Political side of Cyprus conflict; Ottomans were on the side of
central powers during the World War I and Britain took this as an advantage. They annexed
the island on 5 november, 1914 and the Turkish Republic accepted this in Lozan. Following
this, Britain changed the status of the island and announced it as their colony. Rums in Cyprus
thought this as Enosis and they started to plan secret actions.
Makarios was chosen as the archbishop of Cyprus in 1950 and this caused Enosis
movement to develop and increase. In order to realise Enosis, Rums established EOKA in
1955 and started to take actions against Turks in Cyprus. As a result of the pressure of these
actions, Turks in Cyprus had to establish ‗‘Turk Mukavement Agency‘‘.
Zurich and London aggreements were signed in 1959 in order to provide peace in the
island and determine the status of the region. Following the aggreements, Cyprus Republic
was established on 16 august, 1960. In addition to this, Turkey, Greece and Britain were given
the right of guarantor on Cyprus Republic. However, Rums in Cyprus took these
improvements in to consideration as important steps to realise Enosis. 1
There were bloody events in Cyprus in 1963, 1964 and 1967 and during these times lots
of Turks were killed in cruel ways. The best known of these events is ‗‘Bloody Christmas‘‘.
Actions of Turks made the Rums slow down but they didn‘t stop their actions. Related to this,
A Cyprus temporary Turk management was establishes on 28 december 1967. Following the
revolution against Makarious in 1974, Nikos Sampson established Cyprus Helen Republic.
1
http://www.yarindansonra.com/kibris_meselesi_nedir.htm

3. Together with the ongoing actions against Turks, they used their right of and started Cyprus
Peace Movement on 20 july 1974. 2
They initiated a lot of agreements interms of solving diplomacy problems but they
couldn‘t reach any positive solutions. As a result, they realised the 2nd Peace Movement on
14 august 1974. Rums did not want to make peace with Turks so Cyprus Turks established
Cyprus Turk Federe Government on 13 february 1975 and they established North Cyprus
Turk Republic on 15 november 1983.
The differences between the point views of North Cyprus and Turkey in terms of
Politics; Rums were always creating problems especially in terms of Enosis and most
importantly the Turks had last their belief in Rums because of the past. Also, Turks had no
intention to accept any aggreements, That‘s why, all dialogues between Rums and Turks
resulted in unsolved problems.
United Nations took part in Turks-Rums problem since they had some attempt
mediation. However, United Nations were found to take part near Rums according to the
report which was prepared by Butros Gali on 26 november 1992. Following the report a
decision (number 789) was mode and according to it; Rums and Turks wouldn‘t be equal in
the island; Rums would be dominant power in the island; Turks would give up some of their
lands; Turkish Army Forces which had been responsible for the security of the island and
Cyprus Turks would withdraw from the island, In short the decision was totally against the
benefits of Turks.
In fact, Turks were so clear in their demands. They wanted a two sided federal solution;
They wanted to take precautions to increase the security between two socities; they wanted to
be away from any actions that would destroy the positive Political enviroment; they wanted a
federal republic without soldiers and they wanted to take action together with Rums fort he
membership of the EU. Also, there were similarities between the ideas and suggestions of
North Cyprus Turk Republic and Turkey. According to a research, %37,2 of the people
thought the idea of ‗‘two different governments‘‘ was an ideal solution while %39,9 of them
accepted it as an consensus. The second choice of the people Cyprus was the idea of
federation. %26,2 of the people thought this idea as an ideal solution and %45,7 of them
2
http://gundem.bugun.com.tr/kibrisli-turklerin-tercihi--haberi/146372

4. accepted it as an ‗‘consensus‘‘. The least wanted solution was found to be a uniter
government and Cyprus Republic in the research. There is no other country than Turkey who
accepted the existence of North Cyprus Turk Republic citizen could be a turkish citizen.
Turkey introduced a ten point solution plan within Annan Plan; Harbours in Turkey would be
open to Cyprus Rums ships for the goods within the framework of Turkey Custom Union,
Cyprus Rums airplanes would be allowed to use Turks air lands and airports for their flights
and this would be done with international rules, Harbours in North Cyprus such as
Gazimagosa, Girne and Gemikonağı would be open to international circulation of to goods,
persons and services under the control of the management of North Cyprus. Ercan airport
would be open to direct flights under the control of Cyprus Turk government, In order to
involve North Cyprus as an economical existince in E.U custom union practically, special
regulations would be put into action. They would try to provide a remarked trade between two
sides in the island and also the world. Cyprus Turks would be able to take part in sportive,
cultural and social events freely. Turkey, Greece, Cyprus Turks and Cyprus Rums would
come together for an important meeting until may, june 2006 under the control of EU
Genereal secretary so as to create a stable action plan. Action plan and the results of the
meeting would be presented to EU Security Council by EU General secretary; Also, the
secretary would evaluate the establishment of a mechanism that would check the availability
of the action plan and would be able to report it to the EU. The support of EU and UN for
Cyprus Turks would help to realise the suggested precautions. Action plan would never do
harm to the legal or Political positions of each side. Action plan would only aim to provide a
Corporation and security between two sides in the island within the scape of a detailed
solution perspective. However, this action plan was rejected by Cyprus Republic.
Economical side of the event; North Cyprus Turk Republic and Turkey have close
relations. %32.6 of the budget of North Cyprus Turk Republic consist of the aids from
Turkey. North Cyprus Turk Republic, had intentions to regulate the Turk immigrants in 2005.
This resulted from the unemployment and the increase rate of crime. This was the first biggest
problem between between North Cyprus Turk Republic and Turkey. Demographical statu quo
of Turkish sovereignty was wanted to be continued with Turk immigrants. Continental shelf
agreement; Following the oil and natural gas in eastern mediterrenean by the South Cyprus
Rum management, a similar action was announced to be put into action by Turkey and North
Cyprus Turk Republic. They took the first steps fort he searches in Mediterrenean and
limitation of continental shelf aggrement was signed between North Cyprus Turk Republic

5. and Turkey in New York. The aggrement was signed by Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan and Dervis Eroglu from North Cyprus Turk Republic. The most concrete
action was taken by Ankara since they started observing the actions of Rums an the 12th area
of southern part of the island by war aeroplanes and frigate. By this aggreement, all obstacles
fort he searching action in Mediterranean was diminished.
The economical signs of Southerns Cyprus Republic have showed a multi dimensional
success in recent years. According to the latest IMF results, the national income per person in
$28,331 and this is over the avarage of the EU. Since it has a high potential infrastructure,
Cyprus has been a seen as an investment region for overseas business. The economical policy
Cyprus seems to be coherent with the EU‘s. As a necessity of being a EU member, Euro was
accepted on 1 january 2008. Cyprus Republic and Egypt Government have been in contact for
oil recently. Related to this, they signed some aggrements with Egypt and Lebanon for oil and
natural gas in the coastal previous years. Especially, Cyprus and Lebanon expressed regions
their belief in having a remarkable amount of oil and natural gas resources. However, Turkish
Sea Forces didn‘t let the search of oil because of the existence of a government on the
northern part of the island. Turkey was strictly against the oil search of the Northern Cyprus
in the region. Turkey allowed, Turkey Oil Anonym Corporation to search oil in the Northern
part of the island in August, 2007.
According to the latest data of Cyprus Republic Statistical Service, the total population
in the island was 867.600 in 2006. %89,8 (778,700) of them were under the control of Cyprus
Republic and %10,2 (88,900) of them were in North Cyprus Turk Republic Turks lived.
According to a sociological research mode on Cyprus Turks, North Cyprus Turk Republic
Foreing Ministers Özgürgün, mentioned that Cyprus Turks had no identity problem. He
continued; ‗‘Cyprus Turks haven‘t got an identity problem as it is said. Contrary to this, most
of them are aware of their roots and they all fell to belong both to being a Turk and Cyprus‘‘.
According to the research Özgürgün mentions that ‗‘2/3 of the Cyprus Turks see themselves
as the grandchildren of Ottomans who conquered the island in the 16th century. Most of the
people see themselves as Cyprus Turks. In this concept, %56,6 of our people feel both Turk
and Cypriot , %11,9 of them feel only the Turk and %8,4 of them feel Turk and partially
Cypriot. 3
3
http://gundem.bugun.com.tr/kibrisli-turklerin-tercihi--haberi/146372

6. Turkey‘s
Westernization
Policies
and
European
Membership
negotiations;
Relationships between Turkey and EU have been shaped in terms of values such as
democracy, human rights, liberties and economical resistance for the last 15 years. For EU,
these are the inevitable factors of social and Political stability. In 2004, European Commission
found out that, Turkey was ‗‘enough‘‘ in terms of Copenhagen Political criteria and they
suggested in their report that it was high time to start the process of Turkey‘s full
membership. European Union Council come together on 17 december and Turkey asked for
an exact date for meetings. After the summit, they determined a clear date 3 october 2005.
The government was against the idea of suggesting a private statue to Turkey. However,
limitations and degredations were also 2 important problems. According to the council
decision, free movement would be limited ‗‘when necessary‘‘ and this was seen as an
advantage, fort he government. In conclusion, the content of meetings with EU is so clear; the
full membership. It will certainly take time. However, such time is highly important for both
Turkey and Europe. 4
One of the biggest obstacles of Turkey‘s European Membership Negotiations is the
Cyprus Conflict. The European Union accession progress cannot process correlatively
because of the Cyprus Question. The relations between Turkey and EU have been restrained
in recent years. Cyprus issue has been the most important issue to manage many problems in
Turkey‘s European Union membership and Turkish foreign policy. The Cyprus problem‘s
role on Turkey‘s membership process will be explained by understanding a historical,
economical and political perspective. Turkey‘s membership negotiations are influenced by the
Cyprus problem, the problem is seen like a stumbling to progress the negotiation.
As we look at the reasons of the Cypriot‘s application of European Community,
economic reasons came into prominence. Cyprus has more agricultural zone. Cyprus thought
that when the United Kingdom is a full member, Cyprus‘s economics would be affected
negatively. The agricultural products which are exported to United Kingdom are 70% of all
agricultural products. That‘s why, Greek Cypriots, in behalf of all Cyprus, conducted
negotiations and the association agreement was signed between European Community and the
Republic of Cyprus in 19 December 1972. Within the condition of the agreement, the
economic aids were not equal for both sides.
4
http://www.policy.hu/dagi/leftmenu/files/AvrupaB%20ve%20Tr.pdf

7. United Kingdom became a member in 1973 and The United Kingdom has been an important
player in the Cyprus conflict and since Greece‘s EC membership effected the EU‘s situations
of the Cyprus issue.- Cyprus has been physically divided into Greek Cypriot and Turkish
Cypriot areas since an invasion of the northern part of the island by Turkey in 1974.5After the
invasion of 1974, the relationship between Turkey, Greek and European Union started to
become hot. The division of the island as Greek and Turkish sides, the relations also divided
into some parts. With the Greek became a member of European Union in 1981, European
Union proclaimed that the Cyprus problem did not affect Greece‘s membership of European
Union, so EU was no longer neutral between two parts. After Greece was a member of the
EU, Turkey knew the Union cannot be an impartial anymore. Also, United Kingdom was a
favor of Greek parts. When Greece became a member of the European Union in 1981, Cyprus
gained an important internal and external status for the EU members and obtained lots of
advantages as being against Turkey‘s accessions.
The Greek part constitutes the Republic of Cyprus, now. It is recognized part except
from Turkey. The Turkish part is known as the Turkish Republic of Cyprus since 1983. It is
recognized by only Turkey and this part highly dependent on obviously Turkey.
The division of Cyprus led to several foreign and domestic problems, of course, each
member state and non-member state have their special problem but Cyprus problem and its
ongoing conflicts have been related all countries. The EU‘s announcement about candidacy of
Turkey and Cyprus to the EU, led for both countries to rise the tension in between them.
Actually, with the Helsinki Summit decisions in 1991, the Cyprus problem was not given a
pre-condition to the accession of both the Republic of Cyprus and Turkey to the EU‘s
candidate status. It has showed us that, European Council decided that, a solution to the
Cyprus conflict is not a necessary condition for their accessions to the EU for now. However,
when the Republic of Cyprus applied for membership to the EU, Turkish sides were alarmed
because Turkey hoped that accession negotiations with Cyprus would not be started before the
resolution of the Cyprus conflict. Furthermore, before the Helsinki Summit, Turkey and
Turkish Cypriots signed an agreement on economic, financial and trade cooperation to
reorganize and to manage the bad impacts of economic embargoes and isolations on Turkish
5
Turkey‟s Membership Application: Implications for the EU- Neill Nugent, Miami of University, Jean
Monnet/Robert Schuman Paper Series Vol. 5 No. 26 August 2005).

8. Cypriots in 1998. Both Turkish Cypriots and Turkey was in negative position in the relations
with the EU.- The official opening of negotiations for the EU accession of Cyprus in 1998
and, most importantly, the emergence of a more flexible policy of Turkey towards the Cyprus
problem gave refreshed momentum to the resolution of the inter-communal dispute. 6
All previous membership negotiations of EU have ended in Cyprus‘s full membership of EU,
Turkey has the open-ended negotiation in many years. Cyprus issue is likely to be more
important block for not progress the negotiations to next level. Turkey‘s candidacy was
obviously related to Cyprus‘s membership of the EU and with Helsinki Summit decisions.
The negotiations with Cyprus were completed in 2002 with the Copenhagen summit and after
one year, Cyprus became one of the eleven candidates to sign agreement with the EU. A new
stage of negotiations was opened between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots. However, The
Greek influence always can be described as a negative effect on Turkey‘s membership to the
EU, because of its veto right. Although the EU has always sought to find a balanced
solution towards Greece and Turkey and Turkey always has hoped that Greece would not
impact Turkey and EU relations, it, but Turkey has stayed as a lone voice. Southern Cyprus
became a member of European Union in May 1, 2004. It was a way to make real ―Enosis‖ for
Greek side with the accession of the Republic of Cyprus. For Turkey, this issue remained as a
national cause or ‗milli dava‘ while for Greece it was enosis, unification of Cyprus with
Greece.7
There were not any other worthy of note results in between 1997 and 2000 except
Helsinki Summit. Denktaş wrote a letter to Klerides related to propose a meeting again in
2001, and then the negotiations have began in 2002 and that negotiations have resulted in
Annan Plan, it was the most comprehensive solution plan. However, whether or not the
Annan Plan accepts, Southern Side would be an official member of European Union as a
representative of the whole island after voting the Annan Plan. From that on, there were a lot
of increasing concessions and restraints within ongoing Turkey‘s European Membership
process. We can easily understand that after the voting of Annan Plan, Greek side has been an
unsolvable path.
6
EASTERN JOURNAL OF EUROPEAN STUDIES, Volume 3, Issue 1, June 2012, The European Union and the
Cyprus problem: a story of limited impetus, George KYRIS
7
4-23-2013 The Issue of Cyprus in the EU Accession of Turkey Melike Baştürk

9. As the negotiations started in October 2005, the EU and Turkey opened and closed the
negotiations all that time. The Republic of Cyprus persisted that the negotiations only could
start, when Turkey recognized the Republic of Cyprus and allowed Turkey‘s ships, planes and
ports for the Republic of Cyprus. Also, with the Republic of Cyprus joined the Union, the
existing the Custom Union between European Union and Turkey was extended with the new
members of the Union, like the Republic of Cyprus, but Turkey does not recognize it. The
topic of the recognition led to unresolved and delayed. Turkish side insisted as long as EU
maintains the EU‘s restraints and blocks over the Northern Cyprus, Turkey always will
maintain the policy of refusal to extend the Custom Union protocol to the Republic of Cyprus.
The Republic of Cyprus has played a remarkable role in the accession process of
Turkey which is slowing down to Turkey's denial to implement the Additional Protocol and to
open its ports to the Republic of Cyprus. The Republic of Cyprus always can use its veto
power to cancel the EU‘s all trade flows with the Turkish Cypriots or obtain concessions from
Turkey.
After the denial of Annan Plan, Turkey took a lot of steps about Cyprus. The members
of European Union prepared a ‗common position document‘ for Turkey in order to start the
negotiations in 2005. According to the documentary, in short term, Turkey will remove its
strategic assets and in middle term, Turkey will remove its existence of Turkish. However,
Turkey did not sign the documentary, as a consequence, the Foreign Minister of EU decided
that the membership negotiations between EU and Turkey was frozen in December 11, 2006.
After the Annan Plan, European Union put in place ‗austerity package‘ in order to prevent the
Turkish side of the injustice. In this context, the opening of Ercan Airport to international air
traffic, the implementation of Direct Trade Agreement, the removal of isolations were the
removal of the economic differences between Southern side and Northern side. The Turkish
Cypriot side expressed their desire for a future within international system. The EU started its
activities in northern Cyprus by creating aims for the development of the Turkish Cypriots. In
2002, the European Council had set aside €259 million to help northern Cyprus and the
Council now invited the Commission to develop comprehensive proposals for disbursement
of this sum, with particular emphasis on the economic integration of the island and on
improving contact between the two communities and with the EU.8TheEU‘s activities have
8
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmfaff/113/11306.htm

10. been consisted of two regulations: the Financial Aid Regulation was related social, economic
and political development, and the Green Line Regulation which was about that to encourage
the trade between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. Also, the Commission created an aid
package, its value originally €259 million for the Turkish Cypriot Community. However,
European Union paid approximately €150 million because of Greece‘s and Southern
Cypriot‘s veto.9 In 27, October 2006, European Commission focused on the development of
physical infrastructure, the encouraging of economic and social development and the
improvement of the relationship between Turkish Cypriots and European Union. All these
issues created that European Council decided to not open any new chapters for Turkey for its
negotiation in 2006
as long as Turkey wouldn‘t change its behaves against custom
union.Hence, the relationship between EU and Turkey was frozen in December 2006.
At the beginning of 2008, Kosova declared its independence, with its declaration,
Greek Cypriots got in a flap because of the recognition of Kosova, following this
development, Greek side was in doubt whether the Northern side‘s recognition comes up or
not.
In 2008, there was an election in Greek Cypriots. Dimitris Hristofyas came into the
power. He was a more moderate leadership and followed more reconciliatory policy than
previous ones. In 21 March 2008, Talat and Hristofyas came together to discuss the renewed
negotiations. On May, United Nations started to play more active role in this conflict. After
the negotiation in 23 May, 2008, Talat and Hristofyas got handle and determined a bi-zonal,
bi-communal federation comprised of two equal constituent states, having one international
identity. From 11 September 2008 to 6 August 2009, nearly forty negotiations were met
periodically. But, Turkish Cypriots still stay outside the EU environment. The EU law is not
performed in Northern side, Turkish Cypriots do not join in the EU‘s any organs and the
existing trade agreements are not yet implemented. Following these developments, we can
also see that Turkish Cypriots are weaker in comparison to before in the sense of EU
membership. When we looked at the results, nearly the %70 of the Turkish Cypriots though
that EU membership as a good thing in 2005, in contrast, the percentages were down into
nearly %48, because of the lack of clear future in Northern Cyprus.
9
http://sbe.dumlupinar.edu.tr/21/8-hasan%20duran.pdf

11. In the near future, the Republic of Cyprus reinforced their leverage over Turkish
accession to gain interest Ankara‘s uncertain positions on the Greek Cypriot efforts for gas
exploitation in the sea waters around the Cyprus. At the same time, in addition, Greek side
uses an effort to veto Turkish participation in between European Union and Syrian talks about
the crisis of the Middle East country. All these developments led a lot of weaker situations
between Turkey, Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots.
The United Nations tried to find a solution. Greek Cypriots signed a treaty of limiting
exclusive economic region with Lebanon in 2007, also signed with Israel in 2011 to reach
East Mediterranean. Besides, these developments led to limitation on Turkey‘s sovereignty.
Therefore, we can see that Greek Cypriots took no notice of Turkish Cypriots. The mediation
of United Nations opened to question. Turkey stayed a lone voice again in face of European
Union, Greece and the Republic of Cyprus. Cyprus problem is a problem that Turkey always
needs to scramble for the accession negotiations.
Despite the TRNC President Talat‘s efforts for an urgent solution, wide solution
negotiations started between the leaders on 3rd of September 2008, in Cyprus, progress very
slowly because of GCASC Leader Christofias‘s strategies of obstruction and suspension. The
activities of six working groups (Sharing of Administration and Power, EU Topics, Security
and Guarantees, Territory, Property, Economic Topics) and seven technical committees
(Crime/Crime Related Topics, Economic and Commercial Topics, Cultural Heritage, Crisis
Management, Humanitarian Topics, Health and Environment)—established according to the
negotiation on the 21st of March and started to function on the 21st of April were evaluated.10
Just as the tension seemed to be resolved and the agreement process seemed right ahead,
British PM Gordon Brown and GCASC Leader Christofias suprisingly signed a memorandum
in London that basically ignored the agreement process developed within the framework of
negotiations held between March 21 and May 23, an event with raised the tension again. After
the memorandum, the process was deeply harmed and the suspicions about the sincerity of the
Rum people were raised. Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan felt the need of replying to the
discussions about ―one sovereignty‖ and ―one citizenship‖, reminding the “red lines” of
Turkey, as “Nobody must never expect the Cypriot Turkish community to give up on their own
10
http://crc.atilim.edu.tr/sorun/57-kbrs-tarihi

12. governance, equal status and partnership, and to accept themselves as a minority. No one
must dream of trying to change these parameters. Wide solution will only be possiblewith
anew partnership of Cypriot Turkish community and TRNC, with both sides being the
founders and being equally active. “11
Cypriot leaders came together for the 4th time during the period of discussions about ―one
sovereignty‖ and ―one citizenship‖. Talat and Christofias finally agreed on to start wide
negotiations on the 3rd of September, and to simultaneously conduct a referandum about the
expected agreement. Before the September. 3rd negotiations, Talat visited Ankara, and was
entirely supported after many meetings, then returned back to the island. By the time, the
concepts of ―one sovereignty‖, ―one citizenship‖ and ―one international identity‖, which took
place in ‘92 Plan Ghali and 2004 Plan Annan, were most formally expressed. On the other
hand, Rums, kept putting a spanner in the works by property cases (such as Arestis and
Loizidou) chosen punctiliously with the aim of stalemating Turkey, dismantling the island‘s
two-sided structure and ignoring TRNC, while still conducting the agreement process. As a
matter of fact, the decision of the Orams Case of ECHR on the 28th of April stands for the
latest example of such attempts.
Cypriot Leaders had decided upon starting ―intensive negotiations‖ on the 19th of July
2011. The decision in question depended on leaders‘ negotiation with UN General Secretary
held on July 7 in Geneva.
Before mentioned intensive negotiations started on the 25th of July, and until the 21st of
October, 19 meetings were held and all the topics were discussed in detail. The processes
were developed according to the intensive meetings held in the island and within the scope of
negotiations organised on the 30th and 31st of October with the participation of General
Secretary of the UN, Ban Ki-moon. The evaluations made by Cypriot Consultant of the
General Secretary of UN reflected to the press as follows:
-
There will be a structure consisting of two parliaments
-
The House of the representatives will be constructed in accordance with the
population
11
http://www.nejatcogal.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58&Itemid=25

13. -
The senate will consist of equal number of members from the both parties
-
In order to complete the legislation implementations, the consents of the both parties
are required
-
The duties of presidency and vice presidency in any kind of federal structure (such as
Internal Security Agency) will be shared among Turks and Rums
-
Turkish Lira will be available in both sides of the island for a year. However, the
mutual currency will be Euro. Besides, both parties will be able to benefit from the
financial aids by the EU, and the investments for the economic development of the
Northern part will be increased
-
The signatures of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of EU will be required
for a decision about the EU relations
-
The jurisdiction of the founder states will remain, and a equality-based regulation will
be made on the federal level12
In addition to all these, GCASC took the office of the periodical presidency of the EU—to
which it joined in 2004—on the 1st of July, 2012.
GCASC is thought to have a rough period of presidency due to its bank crisis and
continued tension with Turkey. President Christofias made a statement in the name of the
state. He demanded aid from the Euro region to save banks from going bankrupt. The
package of aid, which would be the 5th given to the states in need, is expected to worth about
10 billion Euros. The decisions about aid packages within the body of EU are made by
European Commission, European Central Bank and IMF. A big part of the aid package is
thought to be given to the 2nd largest bank of tha state, Cyprus Popular Bank, which was
deeply affected by the debt crisis of Greece. Bank of Cyprus will use a big portion of the
package as well.Christofias also stated that Cyprus would try its best to prepare a long-term
budget for the EU. Herman Van Rumpoy, President of the European Commission, will play
the most important role during the bargain process.
After the 2009 Lisbon Agreement, the European Commission President obtained many
authorities that were before EU President‘s, which changed in every 6 months. GCASC also
plans to start European Asylum Cirrucilum in their term of presidency. Turkey does not
recognize GCASC, and wants to administrate EU relations via the European Commission.
12
http://www.ikv.org.tr/images/upload/data/files/40-kibrissonperde-can-ekim2011.pdfİKV
Değerlendirme notu ,Kıbrıs‟ta Son Perde, Can MİNDEK, sayı: 40, Ekim 2011

14. Experts believe that no developments in terms of Turkey‘s entrance to EU—a process which
was pending for a long time—will occur during the GCASC period.
Turkey has opened 13 titles of discussion, but could only closed one of them, the title
of science and research. No titles of bargain were opened in the last two years. 18 titles are
also on the wait, 8 of which was stopped by EU because Turkey rejected to open its harbours
for GCASC. The remaining 10 titles were stopped by GCASC and France. TRNC is only
recognised by Ankara at the moment.
The tension between the two sides of the island raised because of the petroleum and
gas searches being made around the island. Neither of the sides attain an agreement in terms
of sovereignty rights of the island. In December, the Council critisized the point of view
Turkey towards Cypriot problem. European Council stated that ‖We are disappointed that
Turkey did not accept the additional protocol foresees the opening of Turkish harbours to
GCASC ships.‖Ahmet Davutoglu stated that the solution steps for the Cypriot problem would
also ease the GCASC‘s economic problems. ―Unfortunately, they chose to increase the crisis
effects and obstacle Turkey‘s membership of EU as a policy.13 We hope that Anastasiadis will
act in accordance with the pre-election messages and steps will be taken for a solution as soon
as possible‖. Gilmore answered the question ‗Can the Cypriot natural gas reserves be used by
EU for establishing peace in the island?‘ as: ―Energy sources may develop some problems,
but they also can be used as solutions. I hope that the second possibility will work for
Cyprus.‖Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmet Davutoglu, met UN General Secretary
Ban Ki-moon‘s Representative of Cyprus, Alexander Downer, in Ankara, in April 2013.
It is stated that Davutoglu underlined that Turkey still supports the solution and the
call of TRNC for a negotiation is important and should be answered. He also explained
Turkey‘s opinions about GCASC‘s statement of natural gas in details.
Downer also met Undersecretary of Turkish Foreign Affairs Ministry, Feridun
Sinirlioglu, within the scope of his contacts in Ankara.Christofias continued his term of office
on EU term presidency without problems. Within this period, many decisions were made such
as European Patent Agreement in EU and EU Banking Union.Christofias also contributed to
the blocking of the direct trade legislation, and contributed to the European embargo and
13
http://www.bbc.co.uk/turkce/haberler/2012/07/120702_cyprus_eu.shtml

15. isolation applied to Cypriot Turks. Christofias also succeeded in getting the five of the eight
members of the European Parliament High Level Contact Group with Cypriot Turks to act
according to the view of GCASC.Despite he stated that he wanted a solution, Christofias did
not even take a concrete step for removing the prejudices towards Cypriot Turks given in the
GCASC schools. However, the foremost step that should be taken by the politics in the island
was removing the prejudices in the society.GCASC deals especially with the economic crisis
at the moment. Although no solution for the crisis can be foreseen in the short-term, GCASC
government clearly shows that they will handle the Cypriot problem after the crisis.There is a
very important reason why the Cypriot problem has not been solved until now. Santions
should be applied to the Cypriot side, which does not try enough in the negotiations and act
without showing good wills. If UN and EU had that a kind of approach to the topic, GCASC
couldn‘t have continued its persistency of deadlock. The negotiations have continued since
1968, and the topic still is open-ended.
The relations between the Greek and the Turkish states have been marked by alternating
periods of mutual hostility and reconciliation ever since Greece won its independence from
the Ottoman Empire in 1821. Since then the two countries have faced each other in four major
wars the Greco-Turkish War (1897), the First Balkan War of 1912 to 1913, the First World
War (1914 to 1918) and the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922).14
After the war, the Turkish policy of reducing the economic existence of the Greeks in
Turkey was kept on. Riots broke out against the Greek minority in Istanbul and the riots are
known as Istanbul Pogrom. There was a false rumor that Atatürk‘s house where he was born
in Thessaloniki was destroyed by Greeks.On July 15, in 1974 EOKAB was formed by a band
of Greek Cypriot nationalists and they supported Enosis and staged a coup against the Cypriot
Presidency. On July 20, 1974, Turkey invaded %37 of the northern part without any
resistance from British forces on the island. The Greek population was expelled on that
part.Greece joined the EU as a full member in 1981. Since then Greece which has used the
EU institutions as organizational platform, has aimed to use advantages about Aegean and
Cyprus problems against Turkey. Indeed, Greece has adopted the problems between Turkey
to EU platform as a European problem and it is their foreign policy priority. The role of the
member states for the policy of the EU‘s approach to the Cyprus problem, analyzing the
14
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek%E2%80%93Turkish_relations

16. dynamics of the integration process and their decision-making process should be taken into
account. In this regard, Greecce is an important factor in the formulation and implementation
of the EU‘s policy towards the Cyprus Problem.15
Indeed, for the first tme in 1990 in Dublin, the European Council stated that the problems
between Greece and Turkey had negative effects for the EU – Turkey relations and they
mentioned that the solution of these problems was the prerequisite for Turkey‘s full
membership perspective. Unity brought about by integration process in line with policies of
Maastricht, ‗ Common Foreign and Security Policy‘ was established and it made the transport
of the bilateral problems of Turkey and Greece, which has the support of using the advantages
of representing the EU institutitons and the European Parliement, has managed to move
Cyrpus problem to the frame of EU Turkey relations.
Greece‘s policy in this direction was also supported by the institutions of the EU. For
example, on 1998, the former EU commisioner for External Relations, Hans van de Brook
announced that ‗Cyprus couldn‘t be left as a hostage to Turkey‘ and he also added that ‗EU
would constitute their own Cyprus policy without taking external pressures and threats in to
consideration‘. In other words, the EU, which took Turkey‘s full membership to the EU‘s
political, cultural and economic integration process possible effects took the cost and risk
calculations towards Turkey into account.16As a result, the EU which didn‘t see the Turkey‘s
full membership within the short and medium term rationally, wanted to move expectations of
Turkey‘s membership to long-term perspective. That‘s why they showed a reason for the
Cyprus problem and they used Greece for their EU – Turkey relations effectively.It is
observed that Turkey and the North side have been using more effort as well as following a
flexible policy. Having encoraged by the EU‘s policy in this direction the South side didn‘t
want to compensate in negations to solve the problem by displaying reluctant attiutude.
Although it was declared that the candidate countries would participate on equal terms in
the enlargement process and the accesion criteria would apply equally to every country, the
Greek side was shown concessions. More precisely it could be put forward there is a
contradiction between the EU‘s poltical strategy applied to the Cyprus problem and the
15
Demir, Nesrin (2005), „The Problem Of Cyprus At The Relationship Between European
Union And Turkey‟ Fırat University Journal Of Social Science vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 347-367.
16
Ulusoy, K 2009, „Europeanization and Political Change: The Case of Cyprus‟, Turkish
Studies, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 393-408.

17. principle put forward by Union‘s 1994 Essen Summit called ‗Good Neighborly Relations‘.
The priorit condition for the membership to the union which was stated in the Essen Summit
was that candidate countries should solve the political dissagreements with their neighbours
and other members of the EU before the membership process. However, before solving the
problems on the island, South Cyprus was included as a full member of the union under the
name of the Republic of Cyprus. This situation made Greece exteremly powerful and the
Cyprus problem stood in front of Turkey‘s road to membership as a bigger problem.17
Offical relations between Turkey and Greece have improved recently. Meanwhile Greek
government seemed to support Turkey‘s efforts to join the EU. However, various issues have
never fully been resolved. Andreas Papandereou, was the retired socialist Greek Prime
minister contributed to this progress. His son, foreign minister George Papandereou, made
appriciable improvement in relations. According to the questionnaire in Greek public, %25 of
the public believe that Turkey has a place in the EU. After the succisive earthquakes both in
Greece and Turkey in 1999, the relations improved by means of sympathy and assistance.
Although Greece and Cyprus voted ‗Yes‘ for Turkey to start negotiations with the EU in
2005, many key issues remain unsolvable. Turkey has denied admission to Cypriot ships to its
territory, an obligation towards the EU with a 2006 deadline. The Turkish government refused
that this limit about Cypriot vessels was taken after the trade embargo decision against the
portion of Cyprus illegally occupied by Turkey. In spite of UN and EU‘s attempts to mediate,
the issue acceptance of the Ortodox Church of İstanbul and the role of Ecumenical Patriarch
are the other unfullfilled obligations. Cyprus issue is stil the most important topic and it
affects the Turkey‘s fullmembership in EU.
17
Ker-Lindsay, J 2007, „The Policies of Greece and Cyprus towards Turkey‟s EU Accession‟,

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EMRE ÇETİNKAYA - 20110203104