Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Nov 2002

Vol. 558 No. 3

Written Answers. - EU Membership.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

105 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has recently discussed the status of Turkey's bid for EU accession with American or other foreign diplomats apart from Turkish diplomats; if he has been lobbied to either grant or withhold support for an early Turkish accession date; if so, the names of the persons who lobbied him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24216/02]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

I discussed the question of Turkish accession to the European Union with the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, in Washington last Monday. The Secretary of State encouraged Ireland, as he has other members of the European Union, to reach agreement at the Copenhagen European Council on 12 and 13 December on a starting date for negotiations on Turkey's accession to the EU.

I explained to the Secretary of State that the EU had established certain criteria, known as the Copenhagen criteria, which had to be met by any state seeking membership of the European Union before accession negotiations could begin. I said that Ireland would be as helpful as possible in regard to Turkey's desire to begin accession negotiations, subject to the necessary criteria being fully met.

I had a conversation along similar lines with the US permanent representative to the United Nations, Ambassador John Negroponte, in New York on 21 November.

The issue has also been discussed with our EU partners. It is expected to be discussed again at the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels on 9 and 10 December and at the European Council in Copenhagen.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

106 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the fact that Turkey is in effect holding the Cyprus peace process hostage to its demand for an immediate EU accession date, and that such behaviour should not be rewarded. [24217/02]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

107 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether Turkey's repeated threats to annex Cyprus if Turkey is not granted an immediate EU accession is belligerent behaviour that should not be rewarded. [24218/02]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 107 together.

It is encouraging to note that the leader of Turkey's governing Justice and Development, AK, Party, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has said that the proposal of UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, for a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus "is negotiable". Ireland has publicly welcomed the UN Secretary General's proposal. I hope that it will be possible for negotiations on the future of Cyprus to proceed in a constructive and open atmosphere on the basis of the Secretary General's plan.

Together with our EU partners, Ireland has called on all the parties involved to co-operate in the process with a view to achieving a political settlement before the end of the negotiations for the accession of Cyprus to the European Union.

The Helsinki European Council conclusions of 1999 provide that, while a political settlement would facilitate the accession of Cyprus to the European Union, the EU will decide on Cypriot accession without a settlement being a precondition and taking into account "all relevant factors" if no settlement has been reached by the end of negotiations. It is expected that a final decision on Cyprus's accession to the EU will be taken at the Copenhagen European Council on 12 and 13 December 2002.

In the past, some senior Turkish figures have made statements to the effect that Turkey should consider annexing the so-called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" if a divided Cyprus should be admitted to the EU. Such action would be in clear violation of international law and resolutions of the UN Security Council. I am not aware of any threats by Turkey "to annex Cyprus" if it is not itself granted an immediate EU accession date.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

108 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether Turkey must first establish not only fundamental change but durable change in its human rights situation such that it acquires a track record on protecting and promoting human rights before being given an EU accession date. [24219/02]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

109 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason Ireland has decided to support Turkey's campaign for an immediate EU accession date; his views on whether Turkey's human rights reforms to date justify this despite the contrary findings of the European Commission's progress report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24220/02]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 109 together.

I refer the Deputy to the reply I gave to Question No. 130 on Wednesday, 27 November 2002.