David Miliband

Foreign Secretary

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Monday 14 September, 2009

Cold Turkey?

Martti Ahtisaari, former President of Finland and architect of the UN plan for Kosovo, is leading a cross European group on Turkey and the EU. His points in this piece for the IHT are completely right – we need to up the game.  The strategic significance of Turkey’s accession talks and final accession are impossible to overestimate.  From the Middle East to energy, Turkey is a pivotal player.

Tomorrow I meet the UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alexander Downer.  The drive for a settlement needs to pick up momentum this autumn and winter, in the sense that the politics will only get more difficult thereafter.  I think this is one of the most important and soluble frozen conflicts.  I am concerned that the first round of talks has been so painstaking, but now the second round is underway we need a real push from all sides.

Posted at 16:15 14 September 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[5]

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I hope that the "real push from all sides" that the Foreign Secretary is advocating is for a just and viable long term solution to this "frozen conflict", a solution that upholds human rights and international law and not one where these fundamental principles are pushed aside because of the "strategic significance of Turkey" as "a pivotal player" "from the Middle East to energy". The human rights of the property owners in occupied northern Cyprus to return to their properties in conditions of safety is essential to any solution. This will require the removal of settlers from Greek Cypriot properties and the return of those properties to their legal owners as well as the withdrawal of Turkish armed forces from Cyprus. Cyprus and its citizens should have the same rights as exist in any other member state of the EU. Therefore, this would also involve the withdrawal of Greece, Turkey and Great Britain as Guarantor Powers in Cyprus.

Posted by Mary Karaolis on September 16, 2009 at 10:15 AM BST #

as a Turkish citizen i find the title quite offensive.

Posted by pen on September 16, 2009 at 09:03 PM BST #

Mr Miliband, may I say that I do not really want my children living under the dual Jack boots of an EU Police state And Sharia Law.

Posted by Adrian Peirson on September 25, 2009 at 10:16 PM BST #

Turkey is not part of the European Community. I am sure that they can be good partners and friends but I do not believe that there is a fit with the rest of Europe. They are important for the middel east and for energy but that does not give them an entry card to Europe. It would make more sense to invite Russia to join. What is it that makes you think Turkey should join the EU? The Turkish people are a wonderful people but do they feel part of Europe? I think not. They may want to have the financial security that the EU offers but this can be achieved without membership.

Posted by Paul Macdonald on September 30, 2009 at 10:44 PM BST #

Dear David,once again it's remarkable to me of how proper and outstanding yr.articles are.Nevertheless: It's important that Finland's former President Martti Ahtisaari has leaded this cross European group on Turkey and the EU.He was and is a pro-EU politician. You are completely right that the strategic significance of Turkey's accession talks and the final accession as a result are impossible to overestimate.But I would add:From Europe via the Middle East 'til energy- this state is a pivotal player.In re. of Cyprus I do full agree to you that this is really an important, soluble frozen conflict.Hope, that a strong push from many/all sides will also become a real strong push for freedom and peace.Best wishes, Ingo-Steven Wais

Posted by Ingo-Steven Wais on October 19, 2009 at 11:21 AM BST #

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