"For EU and NATO, a race for influence
By Judy Dempsey International Herald Tribune
Friday, February 18, 2005
One result is uncertainty on security
BRUSSELS If you want to sense the health of the trans-Atlantic relationship, go no further than Brussels, home to NATO and the European Union.
.....Once neutral Cyprus and Malta joined the EU, in May, it was assumed that they, too, would join the NATO-EU meetings. Turkey, a key NATO member, objected, arguing that Cyprus and Malta were not members of Partnership for Peace, the criterion for participation.
Even though NATO and EU diplomats said both countries could easily join Partnership for Peace, Turkey made it clear that it would block their admission. As a result, the EU and NATO cannot discuss serious security and intelligence issues if Cyprus and Malta are present.
A NATO diplomat said Turkey was holding out on admitting Cyprus and Malta until it had received concessions from the EU. Turkey said it was waiting for the EU to deliver promised financial assistance to the Turkish-dominated northern part of Cyprus and to allow exports to be flown directly from the north to Europe."
More:For EU and NATO, a race for influence: printer friendly version
