Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04BRATISLAVA909
2004-10-05 14:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bratislava
Cable title:
SLOVAK PARTIES AGAINST TURKISH EU ACCESSION
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000909
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EU LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAK PARTIES AGAINST TURKISH EU ACCESSION
Sensitive but unclassified - handle accordingly
UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000909
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EU LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAK PARTIES AGAINST TURKISH EU ACCESSION
Sensitive but unclassified - handle accordingly
1. (SBU) Summary. Two parties from Slovakia's four-party
ruling coalition have voiced strong reservations about
setting a firm date for Turkey to begin EU accession talks.
On September 30, Speaker of the Parliament Pavol Hrusovsky
of the Christian-Democratic Movement (KDH) said he saw "many
reasons not to start accession talks with Turkey." On
October 1, Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda voiced the
opinion of his Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKU),
saying Turkey is not ready for EU membership. During Deputy
Secretary of State Richard Armitage's recent visit to
SIPDIS
Slovakia, GOS members were non-committal regarding Turkey's
efforts to start accession talks, but were not overtly
negative. End summary.
2. (U) Dzurinda, in a press conference at SDKU headquarters,
said the SDKU wished to begin a debate among Slovakia's
political parties about future EU accession for Turkey. He
made four points:
-- Turkey is not yet ready for EU membership.
-- SDKU has serious doubts about whether Turkey has met the
criteria for beginning negotiations and about Turkey's
ability to successfully complete the process. Completing
the process would of course mean that Turkey would be a full-
fledged member of the EU.
-- Turkey has made advancements in recent years towards
fulfilling the political and economic criteria required for
entry to the EU.
-- The key point; SDKU will support further talks between
the EU and Turkey, as long as the result does not lead to an
EU commitment to accept Turkey as a member.
3. (U) Dzurinda went on to list five factors on which SDKU
based this policy.
-- The current state of economic and political affairs in
Turkey.
-- The ability of the EU to absorb more members
(particularly financially). SDKU gives priority to Bulgaria
and Romania, then Croatia and other Baltic states, then
eventually Ukraine.
--The fact that Turkey is a big and important neighbor of
the European Union, and not only SDKU but all of Slovakia
has an eminent interest in a democratic and secular Turkey.
-- A desire to support positive tendencies in Turkey in the
past years in political, economic, and human rights areas.
-- The fact that talks between the EU and Turkey have been
going on for a long time, long before Slovakia was a member.
The SDKU takes into account the dialogue that has already
taken place, and wants this work to continue.
Dzurinda said that as soon as the SDKU learns the results of
the EU Commission's report on Turkey, it will begin a
dialogue with all political parties to reach as wide a
consensus as possible within Slovakia on the issue.
4. (SBU) In a September 30 press conference, Hrusovsky said
that among KDH's main concerns about setting a date to start
accession talks was Turkey's refusal to recognize Cyprus, an
EU member state. He added that he could not imagine
negotiation on EU membership could begin until this
situation was resolved. Hrusovky said he would like to see
Slovakia join the initiative by "conservative" European
countries that proposes a privileged partnership with the EU
rather than full-fledged EU membership. He reportedly also
made reference to the fact that Turkey is a Muslim country.
Hrusovsky closed by saying that the EU has never stood
before a more difficult task.
5. (SBU) Comment: During Mr. Armitage's September 14 visit,
Foreign Minister Eduard Kukan of the SDKU and other GOS
officials gave little hint of the negative bias against
Turkey's EU aspirations that have now come to light. Within
two weeks, the Slovak cabinet should present its official
report on the GOS's position towards setting a date to start
EU accession talks with Turkey. Foreign Policy Advisor
Milan Jezovica emphasized to emboffs that Dzurinda's
statement was a party position, and not a government
position. However, the KDH's and SDKU's statements thus far
leave little doubt what stance the GOS will take.
THAYER
NNNN
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EU LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAK PARTIES AGAINST TURKISH EU ACCESSION
Sensitive but unclassified - handle accordingly
1. (SBU) Summary. Two parties from Slovakia's four-party
ruling coalition have voiced strong reservations about
setting a firm date for Turkey to begin EU accession talks.
On September 30, Speaker of the Parliament Pavol Hrusovsky
of the Christian-Democratic Movement (KDH) said he saw "many
reasons not to start accession talks with Turkey." On
October 1, Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda voiced the
opinion of his Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKU),
saying Turkey is not ready for EU membership. During Deputy
Secretary of State Richard Armitage's recent visit to
SIPDIS
Slovakia, GOS members were non-committal regarding Turkey's
efforts to start accession talks, but were not overtly
negative. End summary.
2. (U) Dzurinda, in a press conference at SDKU headquarters,
said the SDKU wished to begin a debate among Slovakia's
political parties about future EU accession for Turkey. He
made four points:
-- Turkey is not yet ready for EU membership.
-- SDKU has serious doubts about whether Turkey has met the
criteria for beginning negotiations and about Turkey's
ability to successfully complete the process. Completing
the process would of course mean that Turkey would be a full-
fledged member of the EU.
-- Turkey has made advancements in recent years towards
fulfilling the political and economic criteria required for
entry to the EU.
-- The key point; SDKU will support further talks between
the EU and Turkey, as long as the result does not lead to an
EU commitment to accept Turkey as a member.
3. (U) Dzurinda went on to list five factors on which SDKU
based this policy.
-- The current state of economic and political affairs in
Turkey.
-- The ability of the EU to absorb more members
(particularly financially). SDKU gives priority to Bulgaria
and Romania, then Croatia and other Baltic states, then
eventually Ukraine.
--The fact that Turkey is a big and important neighbor of
the European Union, and not only SDKU but all of Slovakia
has an eminent interest in a democratic and secular Turkey.
-- A desire to support positive tendencies in Turkey in the
past years in political, economic, and human rights areas.
-- The fact that talks between the EU and Turkey have been
going on for a long time, long before Slovakia was a member.
The SDKU takes into account the dialogue that has already
taken place, and wants this work to continue.
Dzurinda said that as soon as the SDKU learns the results of
the EU Commission's report on Turkey, it will begin a
dialogue with all political parties to reach as wide a
consensus as possible within Slovakia on the issue.
4. (SBU) In a September 30 press conference, Hrusovsky said
that among KDH's main concerns about setting a date to start
accession talks was Turkey's refusal to recognize Cyprus, an
EU member state. He added that he could not imagine
negotiation on EU membership could begin until this
situation was resolved. Hrusovky said he would like to see
Slovakia join the initiative by "conservative" European
countries that proposes a privileged partnership with the EU
rather than full-fledged EU membership. He reportedly also
made reference to the fact that Turkey is a Muslim country.
Hrusovsky closed by saying that the EU has never stood
before a more difficult task.
5. (SBU) Comment: During Mr. Armitage's September 14 visit,
Foreign Minister Eduard Kukan of the SDKU and other GOS
officials gave little hint of the negative bias against
Turkey's EU aspirations that have now come to light. Within
two weeks, the Slovak cabinet should present its official
report on the GOS's position towards setting a date to start
EU accession talks with Turkey. Foreign Policy Advisor
Milan Jezovica emphasized to emboffs that Dzurinda's
statement was a party position, and not a government
position. However, the KDH's and SDKU's statements thus far
leave little doubt what stance the GOS will take.
THAYER
NNNN