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Arinc Asks Support from EP to Eliminate Isolations on TRNC |
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Sunday, 27 November 2005BARCELONA - Turkish Grand National Assembly Speaker Bulent Arinc asked European Parliament (EP) President Josep Borrell and EP deputies to visit the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and help eliminate the isolations imposed on the country.
Arinc met with Borrell after the 5th Europe-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly Conference. Reportedly, Borrell asked Arinc to follow an active attitude to approve the supplementary protocol, which extends the scope of Customs Union Agreement to include 10 new EU members including Greek Cyprus. Upon this, Arinc reminded Cypriot Turks accepted the Annan Plan but, the Greek side rejected it; however, the TRNC public is still being punished with the isolations. Terming the situation as a conflict, Arinc asserted it was not possible for the parliament to take an initiative to accelerate the approval of the supplementary protocol since it is the government in the Turkish parliamentary system that sends the drafts to the parliament. Arinc asked Borrell to follow an active attitude for the elimination of isolations imposed on the TRNC. He also wanted the EP deputies to visit TRNC in order to help the elimination of isolations as he complained the EP does not make sufficient pressure on Greek Cyprus to resolve the situation.
Borrell told he would do his best to solve the problem and invited Arinc to Brussels. Borrell reportedly said: "I have one year left as the EP President. I want to solve the Cyprus issue before my term of office ends. I do not want you to recognize Greek Cyprus. It will be enough if you just open your ports and airports." Arinc claimed the EP is not keeping its promises it gave to Turkey and is not making sufficient pressure on TRNC as he defined the accession of Greek Cyprus to the European Union (EU) as an injustice.
In the inauguration speech of the "Society, Culture and Inter-Civilizations Dialogue" session of the 5th Europe-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly Conference, Arinc told he believed Turkey's EU membership perspective is the antidote of clash of civilizations and similar theses. Arinc expressed Turkey's membership will confirm the EU's will to turn into an assertive and strategically thinking actor in the global arena. Emphasizing there is an increasing and unfair reaction towards Islam and Muslims due to misunderstandings and manipulations, "I see the use of Islam and the expression of terrorism side by side in particularly Western countries and increasing hostile attitudes against Islam as a big threat," Arinc acknowledged.
Spanish Ambassador: Turkey is an example for Muslims
The 10th EU-Mediterranean Summit kicks off in Barcelona tomorrow in which 40 countries and international organizations from Europe and the Mediterranean will participate. During a press conference, Spanish ambassador Juan Prat, responsible for relations with the Mediterranean, told North African countries, having a Mediterranean coast, should take Turkey as an example." Starting membership negotiations with EU, Turkey demonstrated that a country, having a predominantly Muslim population, can adapt to EU norms politically, socially and economically," told Prat. Aiming to enliven the Mediterranean spirit on the 10th year of the EU-Mediterranean Summit, the EU will handle issues under such titles as "Peace, Security, Stability, Good Governance and Democracy", "Sustainable Economic Development and Reform", " Education and Cultural Cooperation", "Justice, Security, Immigrants and Social Integration" in the meetings to last for two days. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be representing Turkey in the summit, which will be held in the level of presidents and prime ministers for the first time in its 10 year history.
AA
27 November 2005 |
Sunday, 27 November 2005
Turkish Cyprus
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