Cyprus on course for EU, diplomat claims

CYPRUS is expected to become an EU member in 2000 or 2001, despite the division of the island and Turkish objections to its joining, a European diplomatic source told The Irish Times. The projection contradicts the pessimism of many Greek and Turkish Cypriots and foreign observers.

"The EU cannot procrastinate," the diplomat stated. "The EU machine is lumbering in the direction of Cyprus and it will come."

In spite of EU reluctance to alienate Turkey and threats by some EU member governments to postpone entry by prolonging accession negotiations, the source said: "Turkey does not have a veto" on Cyprus membership.

"If Turkey wants its association [with the EU] to succeed, it will have to play ball," he said, adding that the EU's 15 current members would not block Cyprus's entry, even if there is no solution to the island's political problems by the time accession talks begin in 14 months' time.

"Progress [towards a settlement] is what is required, not a solution" and accession negotiations would go ahead even if there was no progress. He said that many members had their own serious problems involving borders and minorities but that did not affect their EU membership.

"Cyprus is not the world's only divided island. Ireland is also divided by a border. Yet Ireland joined the EU and has benefited greatly from membership." Indeed, through membership of the community, people on both sides of the border have come to realise "the common interests of Ireland", he added. This could also happen in Cyprus, he believes, since Greek and Turkish Cypriots have common concerns unconnected with their respective "motherlands".

The source believes there will be movement in the first half of 1997 because the second half of the year will be dominated by the campaign for the Greek Cypriot presidential poll (which takes place in February 1998). With this in mind, the EU presidency is dispatching its envoy, the Irish diplomat Mr Kester Heaslip, to Cyprus on November 27th.

Mr Heaslip will meet the leaders of the two communities and ordinary Turkish Cypriots to inform them about the benefits of membership. Having visited the island in July, he has been co ordinating efforts with the UN special representative, Mr Han Sun Joo, a former South Korean foreign minister, Britain's envoy, Sir David Hannay, and the US mediator, Mr Richard Beattie.