With no solution to Cyprus and Armenian issues, Turkey's EU prospects out of question
Daniel Gros, director of the Brussels-based Center for European Policy Studies, warned Turkey it would need to get things moving.
"Turkey is losing time," said Gros, adding that he has seen no progress in Turkey's reform process for EU membership. "The two big stumbling blocks, Cyprus and Armenia, sooner or later have to be resolved."
"The later Turkey takes steps on the Cyprus issue, the more difficult it will become as each year passes," Gros said. "If there is no solution to the Cyprus and Armenian issues, we will not be able to speak about Turkey's EU prospects."
The Armenian issue is, "a secondary question," because it is not a member of the EU, Gros added, placing the emphasis on Cyprus. He said he remained optimistic over the future of northern Cyprus. "As long as northern Cyprus develops nicely, which it seems to be doing now, over time it will become a de facto state and this reality will be recognized," Gros said, the Turkish Daily News reports.
"Turkey is losing time," said Gros, adding that he has seen no progress in Turkey's reform process for EU membership. "The two big stumbling blocks, Cyprus and Armenia, sooner or later have to be resolved."
"The later Turkey takes steps on the Cyprus issue, the more difficult it will become as each year passes," Gros said. "If there is no solution to the Cyprus and Armenian issues, we will not be able to speak about Turkey's EU prospects."
The Armenian issue is, "a secondary question," because it is not a member of the EU, Gros added, placing the emphasis on Cyprus. He said he remained optimistic over the future of northern Cyprus. "As long as northern Cyprus develops nicely, which it seems to be doing now, over time it will become a de facto state and this reality will be recognized," Gros said, the Turkish Daily News reports.
