He said Spain was trying to open as many negotiation chapters as possible. He said it was likely that the chapters on food safety, public procurement, competition and social rights would open, as none of those have been blocked for any political reasons. He said it could also be possible to open the chapters on energy and education, but noted this was more difficult due to some political opposition. He said if Turkey was more flexible on the chapter on education, it would help tremendously to open that chapter.

Clos said both new negotiation chapters opened with the candidate country and political reforms carried out by that country were crucial to the membership process.He said, “The negotiation process is like riding a bicycle. One pedal is the chapters and the other pedal is political reforms. Chapter and political reforms, Chapter and political reforms. You need to balance both. The condition here is not to stop, because if you stop you fall. I see the accession process like that.” He said it might be a long journey, but both pedals have to work.

In response to a question on whether the Spanish term presidency would be taking steps for a settlement in Cyprus, Clos said, “We are ready. We know very well twosides and positions. We will put all our diplomatic efforts in order to help to improve the situation.” He said Spain would use all its diplomatic strength to solve the problem, but also added that reaching a final settlement depended on the two communities on the island. “We will act according to our belief that we can improve the situation. We do not have any magic or crystal ball. We’ll make you sure that we do our best. It’s a long lasting question but even long lasting questions in the end can be solved,” he said.

Ankara believes that the EU needs to do a little bit more on Cyprus and pressure the Greek side, and avers that the situation is not likely to improve without that effort. Clos said in order to solve the problem, they planned to first change perceptions on both sides about the conflict, which he admitted, was difficult to do.

However, he also said that he agreed Spain should apply as much as pressure as it can, but do that keeping in mind that the final solution is in the hands of Cypriots. He also said he did not like Turkey’s idea of imposing a deadline for settlement, saying, “Deadlines are very dangerous. if you are very close to the solution, it can help but if you are not near the solution, it canconsolidate no solution.” He said deadlines, if used at all, should be set wisely.

Army in Turkish politics

Clos also shared his opinions on the recent investigation into Ergenekon, a clandestine gang charged with plotting to overthrow the government. Saying that Turkey was experiencing a transition from a state where the military is very strong in the governance of the country towards a modern country. He said this would take some time. “Turkey is now going through a process of adaptation to the new reality of a prevalence of the civilian government over the military authorities,” he said.

He said as foreigners, EU diplomats found it hard to grasp all the conditions that are taking place in this period of transition. However, he said it was logical for military’s role to diminish and civilian government’s roles to increase in the post-cold war ear. “We hope, of course, theresults of it will be a full and liberal democratization. But this is not a fight where you have democrats on one side and anti-democrats on the other. It should be that you change the role of the civilian government versus the military authority.” He said both the army and the government had to be democratic. He said for democracy to improve in Turkey, the army taking on a democratic role inside the country by being subject to the democratically elected civilian authority, was as important as giving political and other rights for all groups.“They [the military] should be subject to the civilian authority of the government like in the rest of democratic societies in Europe. But this is something you are already doing. It is a process. Still continuing,” he said.He also said Turkey needed to change its laws that stipulate a different trial procedure for military officers.

Is it difficult to explain the Ergenekon trial to foreigners? Not according to Clos, who says, “This is something quite well known in Europe. This is the origin of what was a Gladio-like organization and then evolved into something else.” However, he said the judicial process was still ongoing and making a pronouncement before the judge’s say their last word would be wrong. “But it is quite logical in a democratic setting that if there is the suspicion of some crimes committed by some members of the army that they should be judged and clarified. We did so in Spain. We didthe same but in smaller numbers because our army is not so big.” He said shady acts have happened at the dark times of the cold war era, due to Gladio-like networks fighting communism covertly. “But then when the cold war ended, and there was no mission for these kind of organizations.

SERVET YANATMA  ANKARA Today`s Zaman