Cyprus factor in Turkey's European Union process

Cyprus Issue effects not only Turkish and Greek parts in the island, but also Turkey and international community. International community holds Turkey responsible for emerging Cyprus Issue ignoring Greeks Enosis goals for the past two centuries and events happened in 1963-74 period. Southern Cyprus Greek Administration (SCGA) has been recognized as a legal representative of ?Cyprus Republic? since 1964. In this context, European Union accepted SCGA?s full membership application made in the name of Whole Island in July 1990. From June 1990 Dublin Summit, EU has wended it?s way to the approach that the Cyprus Issue effects the relations between Turkey and EU. As from this date Cyprus Issue took it?s place on the top of the agenda as a major item in almost all the EU Summits held. For EU, Cyprus?s importance can be evaluated in two points: Enlargement of the Union and island?s strategic location. However, EU is experiencing some disturbances due to accessing a problematic region. The leading problem is the nonvalidity of the Acquis Communiter in the northern part of the island. For this reason, EU seeks for a solution, during Turkey?s membership progress. Without the assent of both parties? and non-settlement of the problem in the island, EU annexed SCGA on 1 March 2004 contrary to the international rules and regulations and SCGA duely promoted to a position as a regulator in Turkey-EU relations. Thus, SCGA aimed to gain more concession in the Turkey-EU negotiation progress rather than in the framework of United Nations. As a matter of fact, on the day of October 3, 2005 when Turkey-EU negotiations had started, a provision for a solution to Cyprus issue ?within the framework of UN and based on EU?s principles? was implemented. Moreover, concerning the Cyprus issues, EU officially requested from Turkey, - To recognize politically SCGA as the ?Republic of Cyprus? - To Implement the Annex Protocol of the Ankara Agreement and open its seaports and airports to SCGA 182 - Not to blockade the SCGA?s participation to international organizations Those matters introduced as a ?liability? for Turkey but have no opportunity to be realized prior to full settlement in Cyprus issue, constituted an interruption labeled as ?train crash.? This situation and non-lifting of embargos enforced to Turkish Cypriots, strengthens the Greek unconformity and roughens the roads to solution. This thesis is consisted of four chapters and analyzes the political dimension of Cyprus-EU relations and it?s effects to Turkey-EU relations. In the first chapter, SCGA-EU relations discussed from past to present and her membership evaluated in political and legal perspective. In the second chapter, emergence of Cyprus Issue and its current situation handled and looked for an answer to the question ?why this problem could not be solved.? In the third chapter, EU?s view to Cyprus issue is analyzed. And in the last chapter, the Forth, the provisions about Cyprus in the Turkey-EU relations are discussed.