'Deal struck' in Turkey-EU talks

[muriel_volestrangler]

The agreement clears the way for Turkey to start negotiations to enter the EU.

European and Turkish diplomats said a compromise formula had been reached in which Turkey promises to recognise Cyprus by next October's start date.
...
Under the agreement, Turkey must issue a written statement promising to sign an accord extending its customs union to the 10 new EU members, including Cyprus.
...
The internationally recognised southern part of Cyprus is an EU member, but Turkey, which occupies northern Cyprus, had previously insisted it would not bow to demands to recognise the country, calling the issue a "red line".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4103931.stm

They were going to have to recognise it sometime - they couldn't have joined without recognising a fellow member.

[hel]

1. The statements concerning Cyprus problem are vague

in the agreement, purposefully done so. Turkey accepts that it will have to accept Cyprus as a EU member, but wants that first a solution be achieved in Northern-Southern Cyprus talks.

[Inland]

2. Letting Cyprus be a deal breaker makes no sense for Turkey

The Turkish actions regarding Cyprus doesn't have many fans, and there are so many in the EU that don't want Turkey in for other reasons--if Turkey says, us or the Greek-dominated part of Cyprus, the EU will take the latter without blinking.

Better to do whatever has to be done to finally get it worked out.

[hel]

3. I agree, but it is not so easy to swallow.

Many Turks would rather not join EU than give up Northern Cyprus. And most of them really want Turkey to join. But giving up land for which your father fought, and 250,000 Turks still live on? That's not so easy.

The best thing would be a final and satisfying agreement on Cyprus, between Cypriots, Greeks and Turks. The matter with that is, now that Southern Cyprus has this to use against Turkish demands, it is even more unlikely they will accept anything they didn't accept before in Kofi Annan's proposal.

[GOPBasher]

4. The more the better.

I think the European Union is an excellent vehicle for good in the world, and I think this especially now as I continue to lose faith in the United Nations. The EU supports peace, environmental protection, freedom of religion, and foreign aid to help the rest of the world catch up to the West economically.