EU warns Turkey over lack of communication with Cyprus air traffic control

THE LACK of communication between air control centres in Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus is seriously compromising air safety in the Nicosia Flight Information Region, the European Commission said yesterday.

It was the first time the Commission addressed the lack of communication between the two countries in its annual progress report on Turkey’s accession course.The report said Turkey had not engaged with the Commission in negotiations on a "horizontal air transport agreement", and did not accept Community designation, a fundamental requirement under Community law.

“Air Traffic Management is suffering from a lack of regional co-operation,” the report said.

It said Turkey refused to bring its bilateral air service agreements with member states in line with Community Law. “The lack of communication between air control centres in Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus compromises air safety,” said the report.

“Preparations in this area are under way.” It did not elaborate.

Since the Council's decision of December 2006, Turkey has made no progress towards fully implementing the Additional Protocol and had made no progress on normalising bilateral relations with the Republic of Cyprus, the report said.

“The EU asked Turkey to remove all remaining restrictions on the free movement of goods, including restrictions on means of transport regarding Cyprus,” it added.

Currently, Greek Cypriot air and sea traffic are banned from Turkish ports and airports.Following Turkey's non-fulfilment of its obligation of full and non-discriminatory implementation of the Additional Protocol, the Council decided in December 2006 that accession negotiations would not be opened on eight chapters relevant to Turkey's restrictions regarding the Republic of Cyprus, and that no chapter would be provisionally closed until the Commission confirmed that Turkey had fulfilled its commitments.

“Turkey needs to fulfil its obligation of full non-discriminatory implementation of the Additional Protocol to the Ankara agreement and to remove all obstacles to the free movement of goods, including restrictions on the means of transport vis-?-vis the Republic of Cyprus,” the report said.

Commenting on the Cyprus issue, the Commission said the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities needed to step up their efforts to relaunch negotiations on a comprehensive settlement under UN auspices.

The Commission was implementing the instrument of financial support for encouraging the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community, and facilitating future re-unification of the island, it noted.

“Enhanced use of the Green Line Regulation, which allows for the movement of persons and goods throughout Cyprus, will serve the interests of both communities.”

It added that the regulation on direct trade with the northern part of Cyprus – opposed by the Cyprus government – remained to be adopted by the Council. Also on a political level, the Commission’s report said that in the case of Cyprus v. Turkey, the Committee of Ministers decided to close the examination of the violations established in relation to the right to education and freedom of religion of Greek Cypriots in the north, at its meeting in April.

Issues which remain pending include restrictions on the property rights of Greek Cypriots in the north and the issue of missing persons.As regards the property right’s of Greek Cypriot refugees, the Commission said that the December 2006 Court ruling in the Xenidis Arestis case found that the new property commission in the north had in principle fulfilled the requirements indicated by the Court.

“However, the Court did not address the effectiveness of the remedy due to lack of agreement between the parties on the issue of just satisfaction,” it said.