"'Dialogue des sourdes' between Ankara and Brussels
Zeynep Gurcanli
gurcanli@thenewanatolian.com
08 June 2006
Ankara is now hearing a chorus of warnings from various European officials: 'The pace of reforms has slowed over the last year…'
Last week the latest visiting European official, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, didn't act any differently than his European counterparts. Steinmeier even went further by mentioning the increasing tension between Ankara and Greek Cyprus over the Customs Union protocol signed by Turkish officials last year that has yet to be approved by our Parliament. The protocol, a 'precondition' set by European Union leaders to begin Turkey's accession negotiations, foresees the opening of Turkish harbors and airports to Greek Cypriots. Turkey doesn't officially recognize the Greek Cypriot government, which became an EU member in 2004."
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