EU-Turkey-Cyprus Triangle: Politics of Tension
EU-Turkey-Cyprus Triangle: Politics of Tension

Summary/Abstract: As known, opening and closing procedure of the chapter titled as Science and Research, which was the first round of the EU negotiation process with Turkey, seriously occupied the agenda of the EU. It therefore became the forerunner of the upcoming crisis which is strongly possible to happen in the autumn due to the tough attitude of Greek Cyprus in the negotiation process together with the support of other members. After the tough explanations of Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan like ‘not problem for us to enter the Union’, different reactions coming from the EU has increasingly been going on. Firstly the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn, then Erkki Tıomioja, Finnish Foreign Minister who took over the term-presidency, and lastly Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen kept on making similar tough explanations warning Turkey about the Cyprus issue. PM Vanhanen has warned Turkey that EU talks with Turkey could be suspended if Turkish ports are not open to the Greek Cypriots.

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