Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/1999-10-06-Speech-3-030"
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"en.19991006.1.3-030"2
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"Mr President, Mr President-in-office of the Council, Commissioner, there is no doubt that the tensions, the insecurity and the instability are all enemies of development and prosperity. We Greeks seek the consolidation of peace and stability throughout the whole of the South-Eastern Mediterranean. It is therefore evident that we consider closer rapprochement between Turkey and the European Union a positive development. I ought to stress the point, so as to avoid any misunderstanding, that the rapprochement of Greece and Turkey, despite the historical antagonism and the fundamental differences, is in fact one of the most significant issues in our country’s foreign and security policy.
Turkey’s vocation within Europe, however, is a debate of great interest within the international community. Any positive development depends solely on Turkey itself. Provided that Turkey conforms to the prerogatives and duties imposed on those states wishing to join the European Union, and provided it subsequently fulfils the criteria and follows the programme stipulated in the joint decisions in Copenhagen and Luxembourg, then it could progress with its European goals. It is unfortunate that Turkey’s behaviour both nationally and internationally is a far cry from that of stable Europe. As regards democratisation and respect for individuals’ rights, the gap is major. Internationally, Turkey is known for its lack of stability, persisting with actions which promote rather than prevent destabilisation of the local geopolitical environment.
International Law cannot accommodate threats of violence, political blackmail by the larger States or disputes over borders and obligations arising from involvement in the international arena. Nor can it accommodate countries adopting defiant stances in the international arena.
In particular, the stance taken by Turkey in relation to the Cyprus issue proves that nothing has changed, despite the distorted view propagated by the international press during the disastrous earthquakes. Turkey wants to join the Union, but it wants to do this without changing anything in its internal functioning and approach. Is this possible when it does not respect international law? It is self-explanatory that one cannot justify such preferential treatment, such behaviour and such forfeitures of rules and principles within this Community. It would be wrong for other applicant countries and would set an unpleasant precedent in the framework of enlargement and of current and future….."@en1
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