The German bloc in the EU acts as a deterrent to the imposition of sanctions against occupying Turkey while the attitude of our partners sends to the unwanted the European solidarity towards the Republic of Cyprus. According to what has been discussed in the EU Council of Foreign Ministers, last Monday, in Brussels, the issue of illegal Turkish actions in the enclosed area of ​​Famagusta is of concern to the Union, texts have been drafted but for that there is no political will for decisions.
THE Liberal of Cyprus how the Member States were positioned to get a complete picture of who supports us and who does not. Indicative of the prevailing climate was the position of the Austrian Foreign Minister, during his deuterology. He said that as it became known, he hopes that his country will never be in a position to need solidarity. This confirms the prevailing climate and the many difficulties that exist in accepting the obvious. In the background, however, it appeared that Nicosia had prepared alternative moves, with the aim of ensuring that a framework of sanctions would be adopted and then that measures would be implemented.
At a meeting, which had many issues on the agenda, the issue of Famagusta occupied the foreign ministers a lot.
The Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borel, opened the discussion by saying that it was time for a decision. Referring to the “selection document”, which he prepared and submitted, he noted that it concerned measures that are directly related to the issue of Famagusta and the wider Turkey-EU relations. The goal, he said, is to prevent a further deterioration of the situation on the ground. Enlargement Commissioner Varhelyi spoke on the same wavelength, proposing the Cyprus issue. However, he kept his distance from the option, which concerns the cut of funds. He argued that there had been no prior consultation with the European Commission on the issue.
The Republic of Cyprus, through Nikos Christodoulidis, in its initial position expressed objections to the “selection document”, mainly to paragraph 13 concerning MOE for hydrocarbons. During the discussion, noting that Turkey has not changed course, he said that if no decisions are taken, we will send the message to Turkey that it is acceptable for it to continue its behavior. He expressed frustration with the fact that Member States are ready to take action against Russia, but are not ready to take action in the case of a Member State.
The attitudes of the foreign ministers took the form of a relay race. In the sense that those who agreed followed the “thoughts” of the previous ones.
Germany, which is apparently sharing the game, in its original position, first argued that any decisions should not affect the UN process. That is, not to affect a process that does not exist. He hastened to say that the (member states) should ask themselves whether, in the current situation, sanctions against Turkey would have the desired effect. Wanting to say that further discussion of the issue is needed in Brussels, he asked a series of rhetorical questions: What would be Turkey’s reaction? Could such a development be exploited for internal political purposes? What will be the effect on Turkish civil society of a cut in funding? In her second statement, the German Foreign Minister said that solidarity means examining the consequences not only for a member state but for the whole. He cited the fact that her government had just taken over and that she did not have time to study the document, so that no decisions could be made.
Italy, Sweden, Finland and Spain have called for an assessment of the effects of the measures taken against Turkey. Rome was tougher than the rest of the group calling for an impact analysis. Estonia and Malta have called for a further discussion of the measures, ie the document. The Netherlands, for its part, has been reluctant to take action. He referred to the Security Council’s appeal to Turkey on what is happening in the region, implying that it is a sufficient measure. The same position was taken on the positive agenda and the need to defuse tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. Denmark said the maximum it could accept was the Borel document.
On the opposite bank, France noted that no action could be taken in response. He added that the preparation of a sanctions regime especially for Varosia is the best option. Positive reports from Austria and Ireland, Luxembourg. Austria stressed that our relations with third countries should not be based on solidarity with a Member State. He clearly stated that measures should be taken and the issue of cutting funds should be discussed. But Ireland, which agreed with Austria, said that Cyprus is not asking for something irrational. He supported the adoption of a sanctions framework and the sending of the message to Ankara that if no change is made, measures will be taken. “Otherwise we will not be serious. “Solidarity is key,” he said.
Belgium pointed out that yes, we should encourage progress in the Cyprus talks, but that measures based on the options document should not be ruled out. Solidarity with Cyprus and to consider the possibility of new sanctions, he pointed out. Bulgaria has argued that violations of international law are unacceptable and reiterated its well-known repeated position that it supports a solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of the ICC and in line with the principles on which the EU is based.
When the discussion seemed deadlocked, the Cypriot Foreign Minister intervened and stated that as a compromise, we could accept the mandate to prepare a special sanctions regime for Varosia, which will be activated only if Turkey does not accept the UN Security Council. which Anastasiadis proposes in relation to the city. What Nicosia proposed was essentially a two-pronged approach, with both positive and negative aspects. In the end, the Foreign Minister expressed great disappointment for the lack of practical solidarity. He referred to the fact that as a result of this attitude, Turkey will be given the green light to continue its violations to the detriment of the resumption of talks on the Cyprus issue, this time, unfortunately, with the responsibility of the EU. He wondered whether an empty sanctions regime was being discussed.
In this position of Nicosia there were approaches that considered it logical. Josef Borrell has repeatedly said that the issue has been under discussion for six months and that it is time to make a decision. In the end he fully understood the fact that the matter had been discussed for six months, referred by the Council of European Affairs to the Permanent Representatives Committee II and vice versa, without a conclusion. There are, he said, a number of Member States wishing to adopt measures now. He expressed understanding for the frustration that exists but “there is no unanimity at the moment”. All, he said in the form of consolation, have expressed their solidarity with Cyprus. The only thing we can agree on, he said, is refer the matter to the Permanent Representatives Committee II to consider the impact of the measures.
The result was that the interests did not allow decisions to be taken, a regime of sanctions, to send the message to occupying Turkey that if it does not abandon its aggressive, expansive behavior, it will cost money, sanctions will be imposed. Cyprus, however, is not Ukraine!
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Nikos Dendias, in his statement stated that Turkey continues to create accomplishments. “We must respond together, in solidarity with Cyprus and in favor of international law and UN Security Council resolutions,” he said. At the same time, the situation in Greek-Turkish relations is not improving. As he explained to his counterparts, Turkey is now questioning the sovereignty of the eastern Aegean islands. “If we do not set our limits now, we will have bigger problems in the future,” said the Greek Foreign Minister during the discussion.
Liberal of Cyprus
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