Joint Communique on the oil and Gas Resources of the Caspian Sea Basin March 2,1998 Joint Communique Given By Turkish And Jordan Sides During;Mr. İsmail Cem´s Official Visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan March 3, 1998 Information Note For The Press Concerning The Turkish Peace Initiative Of 11 March 1998 In Order To Resolve The Aegean Disputes Between Turkey And Greece March 12, 1998 Joint Press Statement By; The Foreign Ministers Of The Republic Of Croatia And The Republic Of Turkey March13, 1998 Joint Press Release on the establishment of a Balkan Multinational Peace Force March 18, 1998 (Unofficial Translation) Note To The Press Concerning Turkey´s Proposal To Establish a Balkan Multinational Peace Force March 19,1998 (Unofficial Translation) Press Conference Of The Minister Of; Foreign Affairs, İsmail Cem; At The Turkish Republic Of Northern Cyprus Lefkosa, March 30,1998 The Reply Of Ambassador Necati Utkan, The Foreign Ministry Spokesman To A Question Addressed To Him March 30, 1998 Statement By Ambassador Necati Utkan, Spokesman Of The Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, In Response To A Question March 30, 1998 (Unofficial Translation) Declaration By The Association Council Between Turkey And The TRNC March 31, 1998
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  5. Statement By Ambassador Necati Utkan, Spokesman Of The Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, In Response To A Question March 30, 1998 (Unofficial Translation)
Statement By Ambassador Necati Utkan, Spokesman Of The Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, In Response To A Question March 30, 1998 (Unofficial Translation)

The EU is launching today (30 March) the accession process of the ten candidate countries and the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus, as provided for in the decisions taken at the Luxembourg European Council. The political map of Europe will assume a new appearance at the end of this process.

Our country which fulfils the conditions necessary for inclusion in this process on an equal footing with the other candidates, has been subjected to a discriminatory treatment in utter disregard of the pacta sunt servanda principle. The legal basis of the Association Agreement which constitutes also today the foundations of Turkey-EU relations has been ignored. Moreover, the EU has opted to overlook one of the most vivid proofs of Turkey’s eligibility for full membership, i.e. the fact that the Commission has prepared an Opinion when Turkey applied for full membership in 1987. The current approach of the EU is self-contradictory.

The EU has stated at the Luxembourg European Council that it accepted Turkey’s inclusion in the enlargement process. It is not possible to bring a rational explanation to why Turkey’s candidature can simply not be pronounced in spite of this statement and the above-mentioned legal facts. This very reason compels one to seek other, unlikely reasons behind the EU’s attitude.

It is the EU’s responsibility to rectify the erroneous decisions which it took at the Luxembourg European Council. The chance still exists to turn into reality the statements made by various EU officials that a mistake was made.

Until this mistake is rectified, Turkey will pursue its relations with the EU within the context of the Association Agreement. The responsibility here also belongs to the EU which has not even implemented its commitments under the Customs Union Decision and is thus in violation of its legal undertakings. The fate of the Communication recently submitted by the Commission to the Council will constitute a new test-case in the EU’s credibility in honouring its commitments.

It is our wish to see Turkey-EU relations return to their normal course. This is possible, however, only if the discrimination against Turkey is brought to an end and the principle of pacta sunt servanda is observed.