"EU draft draws fire in Turkey
By Graham Bowley International Herald Tribune Tuesday, November 30, 2004
BRUSSELS Turkey will have to recognize the Republic of Cyprus, if only tacitly, if it wants to begin membership negotiations with the European Union, according to a draft document that was leaked here Monday.
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The document emerged as intense maneuvering began in anticipation of a decision by EU governments on whether Turkey can begin accession negotiations. The decision is set for Dec. 17.
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The issue of Turkish membership has split the Continent, with skeptics doubting that the EU could absorb a large Muslim country.
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Worries that richer Western European nations would be forced to subsidize Turkey, which would be one of the EU's biggest but poorest members, and that Turkey's entry into the EU could trigger a wave of migration have combined with concerns that Turkey does not share European values.
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These doubts have hardened public opinion in some countries and led some governments, such as in France where a majority of citizens oppose Turkey's membership, to suggest that Turkey be given a loose association with the EU rather than full membership.
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The focus on new conditions and obstacles, such as Turkey's lack of recognition of Cyprus, has dismayed Ankara.
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It insists it will not recognize Cyprus, which joined the EU in May, despite Cypriot threats to veto accession negotiations. Turkey is the only European country that does not recognize the Cypriot government, which it claims represents only the majority Greek Cypriot community on the divided island.
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The draft document, prepared by the Dutch government, appeared to hold out the prospect for negotiations between the EU and Turkey to begin next year, as Turkey desires.
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