Tweet
Message to EU: Opening Turkish Ports to Greeks Cyprus will Bring the Government Down
Falsifier-Onur Öymen
By Zaman, Ankara
Published: Sunday, July 02, 2006
zaman.com
The European Union (EU) Council Enlargement Collaboration Group discussed Turkey’s membership process during a visit to the Turkish Parliament (TBMM).
Greek representatives in the delegation brought up the issue of opening Turkish ports to Greeks and the extension of Greece’s territorial waters in the Aegean Sea, which they regard as “act of war.”
Gathering with the EU Accordance Commission members on Friday, one of the Greek representatives revealed they expected Turkey to open it ports to Greeks and Southern Cyprus demands the establishing air service between Larnaka and Istanbul.
Chairman of the Turkish Parliament EU Accordance Commission Yasar Yakis firmly responded, saying that Turkey will never open its ports to Greek vessels as long as commercial isolation of Turkish Cyprus continues.
Onur Ovmen, member of the main opposition CHP, said, “No government can open Turkish ports for Greeks; if it did, it would dissolve in an hour.”
Ovmen reproaching the Greeks remarked it is injustice for Turkey to continuously bring to the agenda the Cyprus, Aegean and Armenian issues in an effort to hinder Turkey’s membership.
He also underlined no government in Turkey will recognize the unilateral Greek governments in Cyprus.
Surprised by Ovmen’s statement, the Greeks then brought the “act of war” issue into the agenda.
Yakis first responded to the Greeks, declaring that Greece extended the limit of its territorial waters 12 miles including Turkey’s ports violating international law, and reminded, “If we were to accept it, our harbors in Aegean Sea would have to be included within Greek territorial waters.”
Falsifier-Onur Öymen
By Zaman, Ankara
Published: Sunday, July 02, 2006
zaman.com
The European Union (EU) Council Enlargement Collaboration Group discussed Turkey’s membership process during a visit to the Turkish Parliament (TBMM).
Greek representatives in the delegation brought up the issue of opening Turkish ports to Greeks and the extension of Greece’s territorial waters in the Aegean Sea, which they regard as “act of war.”
Gathering with the EU Accordance Commission members on Friday, one of the Greek representatives revealed they expected Turkey to open it ports to Greeks and Southern Cyprus demands the establishing air service between Larnaka and Istanbul.
Chairman of the Turkish Parliament EU Accordance Commission Yasar Yakis firmly responded, saying that Turkey will never open its ports to Greek vessels as long as commercial isolation of Turkish Cyprus continues.
Onur Ovmen, member of the main opposition CHP, said, “No government can open Turkish ports for Greeks; if it did, it would dissolve in an hour.”
Ovmen reproaching the Greeks remarked it is injustice for Turkey to continuously bring to the agenda the Cyprus, Aegean and Armenian issues in an effort to hinder Turkey’s membership.
He also underlined no government in Turkey will recognize the unilateral Greek governments in Cyprus.
Surprised by Ovmen’s statement, the Greeks then brought the “act of war” issue into the agenda.
Yakis first responded to the Greeks, declaring that Greece extended the limit of its territorial waters 12 miles including Turkey’s ports violating international law, and reminded, “If we were to accept it, our harbors in Aegean Sea would have to be included within Greek territorial waters.”
Comment