Turkey urges EU to fulfill pledges to tackle EU migrants issue

The EU must fulfill pledges to offer Turkey 3 billion euros a year and visa-free travel for Turks in return for cooperation to stem the flow of migrants, Ankara's ambassador in Brussels said Friday.

The European Union must also break the stalemate in negotiations for Turkey to join the 28-nation bloc and resume inviting Turkish leaders to EU summits in order to seal a cooperation deal, Ambassador Selim Yenel said. "It is only operational if the EU delivers on its pledges, the four pledges that they gave," Yenel said in an interview with AFP in his Brussels office.

He appeared to suggest it could take months before this happens. Just hours after the EU announced with great fanfare last week it had reached a refugee cooperation deal with Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other officials swiftly dampened expectations.

The president urged Brussels to take Ankara's 10-year bid for EU membership more seriously while his foreign minister, Feridun Sinirlioğlu, heaped scorn on the EU's proposals of financial help.

Yenel said the Greek Cypriots, who are engaged in longstanding peace talks with Turkish Cypriots on the divided Mediterranean island, have "blocked" efforts to open the accession talks on various policy areas - including on the judiciary and fundamental rights.

While EU leaders did not specify how much they would give Ankara, they did say the 3 billion euros demanded by Turkey would be a problem.

But the EU has expressed growing concern about the flow of migrants through Turkey, now the main gateway for Syrians and others fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and Central Asia. They make the dangerous sea crossing to Greece, then travel up through the Balkans to Austria and Germany.

"The EU finally remembered us, recognized us for what we are," Yenel said. "It's a pity that we had to come together because of a crisis, but we know how the EU works, that it functions and evolves through crises and maybe we needed a crisis to come together," the ambassador said.

While Ankara steps up efforts to tackle the refugee crisis and enhance relations with the EU over the migrant crisis and Turkey's longstanding bid to enjoy visa-free travel in the EU along with the opening of several chapters, Greek Cyprus has been putting obstacles in Ankara's way. Such a negative approach from the Greek Cypriot side could risk Turkish-EU deals as well as its relations with the EU.

Greek Cypriot Finance Minister Ioannis Kasoulides contradicted German Chancellor Angela Merkel by saying it is not possible for his side to give consent to the opening of chapters for Turkey's EU bid. As Kasoulides's remarks sparked controversy and were interpreted as spoiling EU-Turkish efforts by many, Greek Cypriot spokesperson Nikos Christodoulides put forth a condition for his side to support the opening of several chapters. Christodoulides argued that the Greek side would be willing should the Turkish side accelerate efforts to make progress on the return of Famagusta to its legal owners. He stressed that the idea belongs to Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades.

As Christodoulides conveyed his request, he also stressed that all 28 EU member states have to give consent before any chapters can be opened. Even though Christodoulides's statement reflects a fact, it implies that the Greek side will play its ace to get what it wants in exchange for giving concessions to Turkey.

Meanwhile, Anastasiades will meet with German Chancellor Merkel in the upcoming days to address the issue. The two are reportedly to touch mainly on Turkey's EU bid and the opening of several chapters.

Heavily counting on its legal and political right to veto Turkey's EU bid and opening of chapters, the Greek Cypriot side could face pressure from the EU. Recently, Merkel rushed to Istanbul to find a quick and effective solution to the refugee crisis, meeting with President Erdoğan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu. Furthermore, British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande voiced their support for the acceleration of Turkish-EU relations, including visa-liberalization and the opening of chapters.

Greek Cypriot politicians may as well think about vetoing everything regarding Turkey receiving concessions from the EU unless their demands are realized. Big guns inside the EU, however, make the ultimate decision. For this reason, insisting on the same demands is not likely to do any good to the Greek side should countries such as Germany, the U.K. and France decide to collaborate more with Ankara. The question of whether the Greek side's demands are to be met or whether to open several chapters and acquire visa liberalization is still on the table. However, laying new obstacles in front of Turkey's EU bid has the potential to sour relations between the EU and Greek Cypriot.