By Martin Banks - 28th November 2011
The reforms will benefit Turkey and its people
Jerzy Buzek
Parliament's president Jerzy Buzek says a speedy settlement to the Cyprus problem is in the "best interest of Turkey and the EU".
The Polish MEP was speaking during an official visit to Turkey and after meeting Turkish president Abdullah Gul.
Buzek said, "I re-affirm our continuous support for Turkey’s ongoing accession negotiations with the EU. I am here on a mission of friendship and openness.
"Good friends should be honest. We must overcome the current stalemate in our negotiations. We should work to unblock chapters where we can, but full implementation of the Ankara protocol would give the accession process a huge boost."
He added, "It is in the best interest of Turkey and the EU to reach the settlement on the Cyprus issue as soon as possible."
His comments come after Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu last week told this website that he wants a deal by the time Cyprus assumes the EU presidency in July 2012.
He is worried that, unless there is a settlement by then, Turkey will sever its already troubled ties altogether with the EU.
Adding to the debate, Buzek said, "Freezing relations between Turkey and the EU during the Cypriot presidency of the EU in the second half of 2012 is not an option.
"Let us - Turkey and the EU push together for a final settlement under the auspices of the UN before July.
"If we resolve the issue of Cyprus, we can re-start negotiations. I am optimistic after my visit that we can finish negotiations on Cyprus by 1 July 2012."
Cyprus has been divided since a military intervention by Turkish troops in 1974 in response to an attempted coup by Greek Cypriot soldiers.
In 2004, Turkish Cypriots voted in favour of a peace plan put forward by the UN but it was rejected by Greek Cypriots in the south. The island is considered of particular importance in the wider region because of its potentially vast sources of gas and oil.
Turning to EU/Turkish relations, Buzek said that Turkey's "increasingly visible and active" role in the region and its fast growing economy means it is becoming a major regional power and an "even more important" strategic ally for the EU.
He added, "We should however endeavour to closer coordinate our foreign policy in promoting regional stability."
He said parliament is "concerned over the extremely slow pace" of critical political reforms, in particular, freedom of expression and of the media, freedom of religion and protection of minorities.
"A new civilian constitution is essential. I was happy to hear from all four parliamentary blocks in the Turkish parliament about their full support for the work of the cross-party commission tasked with the drafting the new constitution.
"Full implementation of the constitution will be crucial. The reforms will benefit Turkey and its people."
