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Angry Turks reject European Conference invitation
December 14, 1997
Yilmaz
Web posted at: 4:35 p.m. EST (2135 GMT)ANKARA, Turkey (CNN) -- One day after his country was passed over for membership in the European Union, Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz on Sunday angrily dismissed a chance to attend a special European Conference in March to develop future relations with the EU.
But despite his harsh criticism, Yilmaz stopped short of withdrawing Turkey's EU application, and said existing relations would remain in place.
At a meeting in Luxembourg Saturday, the EU agreed to discuss full membership next year with six nations, including Cyprus and former enemies in Eastern Europe. Initial talks are to begin with five other countries.
But with much concern over human rights abuses, Ankara-Athens feuds and Turkey's ailing economy, Turkey failed to make progress on its long-held wish to join the group.
"This invitation to the European Conference carries no importance," Yilmaz said after an emergency Cabinet session called to discuss the EU actions.
The Luxembourg summit marked the start of what could be the biggest expansion of the EU since it was formed in the late 1950s.
The newly created European Conference will take place in London, and among those attending will be the 15 EU members and the 11 countries chosen for potential membership.
The conference is meant to be a forum for political talks aimed at boosting cooperation on international and security policies, economic matters and regional issues.
Yilmaz said Turkey, which established a customs union with the EU in 1995, would continue some relations with the EU. But, he said Turkey would not bow to all its conditions for membership.
The EU wants Turkey to improve its human rights record, protect the rights of its Kurdish minority and solve territorial disputes with Greece, including the future of the divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus.
Cyprus conflict hardens
But Yilmaz said Turkey had lost faith in the EU because it had failed to apply what he called "objective criteria" for membership.
Thus, he added, Ankara would no longer discuss with the Union such political matters as Cyprus, divided into Turkish and Greek Cypriot sectors, as well as its stormy relations with EU member Athens.
The decision by the EU to invite Cyprus for full membership talks in March -- along with Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Estonia -- has infuriated Ankara.
Yilmaz indicated that Turkey would move ahead to integrate the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus with mainland Turkey. Turkish soldiers invaded the northern part of the island in 1974 and proclaimed the territory an independent republic in 1985. The self-declared republic is not recognized by the United Nations.
"This process to develop political ties with the inclusion of defense issues between Turkey and Turkish Cypriots will be speeded up by April," Yilmaz said. "The EU carries the responsibility for all negative developments on the Cyprus issue."
The United Nations has been on the island since the 1960s to avoid clashes between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, but has failed to bring about a negotiated settlement of the territorial dispute.
Correspondent Andrew Finkel, Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- EU moves ahead with eastward expansion - December 13, 1997
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