EU encourages further progress in Turkish-Armenian relations

Tuesday, 16 March 2010 12:31

EU fully support the hard work of Turkey and Armenia turning a historic page and normalizing relations.

The European Union’s new enlargement commissioner, Stefan Füle, confirms his support for Turkey’s accession to the EU but urges the country ‘to fully implement additional protocols and normalize relations with Cyprus.’ Meanwhile, Füle also says he encourages further progress in Turkish-Armenian relations and continued pursuit of ‘zero problems with neighbors’

Turkey must normalize relations with Greek Cyprus, the European Union’s new enlargement commissioner told reporters in Ankara on Monday during his first official visit to EU-candidate Turkey.

"I had the opportunity to underline the importance the EU attaches to the need for Turkey to fully implement the additional protocol and normalize its relations with Cyprus," Füle told reporters during a joint conference with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

"We agree that a comprehensive settlement on Cyprus would be a historic breakthrough to the benefit of both Turkey and the EU," Füle said.

A European diplomat serving in Ankara confirmed the increasing concerns, saying that the membership talks might enter a stalemate unless the Cyprus issue is resolved.

Turkey and the EU share a strategic vision to lead global politics, according to Davutoglu. “The EU is our common future. We will exert efforts to make the EU an international player that is geopolitically influential and economically dynamic.”

“Turkish membership is a good opportunity,” Davutoglu said, adding that Turkey's membership talks should not be overshadowed by "political problems that have no direct link to the EU process, such as Cyprus."

“I’ve confirmed my commitment to the accession process and to seeing Turkey become a member of the EU,” Füle said, noting that the credibility of the accession talks in respect of mutual commitments was discussed.

Davutoglu, however, said visa liberalization must be granted to Turkey once it fulfills the requirements.

Also during the press conference, Füle encouraged Turkey to continue with its "zero problems with neighbors" policy and with the country’s efforts to normalize relations with Armenia.

“I fully support the hard work of Turkey and Armenia turning a historic page and normalizing relations,” Füle told reporters.

Asked to comment on the Armenian "genocide" resolution recently approved by the Swedish parliament, Füle replied, “The commission does not comment on internal decisions of member states.”

But he noted: “I know that sometimes politicizing history makes reconciliations difficult. I’ve made a point of support for the current stage of the relationship between Turkey and Armenia.”

The European Commission is ready to assist both Turkey and Armenia to carry out their responsibilities stemming from the protocols, he said.

The commissioner later met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, chief EU negotiator Egemen Bagısh and several deputies as part of his trip to Ankara.

Füle is also set to have talks with civil-society organizations and members of business circles in Istanbul on Tuesday.

An association agreement between Turkey and the EU was signed in 1963. A number of decisions by the European Council, as well as resolutions by the European Parliament, confirmed that Turkey would become a full member once it meets all the requirements.

Hurriyet Daily News