Cypriots ’ decision to purchase S-300 missiles from Russia 20 . If it materialized , it would mean jeopardizing the relative stability on the island . Moreover , it meant having powerful surface-to-air weapons which could put Turkey ’ s security under threat as well . Even though these missiles were deployed in Crete 21 , they heightened the tension among Turkey , Greece , and Cyprus .
Some positive developments during 1999 – mainly the “ earthquake diplomacy ” - resulted in a consequential change in Turkey-EU relations . The European Union ’ s Helsinki Summit on 10 and 11 December , 1999 discussed Turkey ’ s progress and decided to grant Turkey candidate status . From 2001-2002 , Turkey prepared and adopted harmonization packages to reach the goals defined in the National Program and align with the standards of the EU 22 . The process especially accelerated after the Justice and Development Party ( AKP ) came to power in 2002 . As the meeting of the European Council in Copenhagen was approaching , Recep Tayyip Erdoğan , who was not the Prime Minister of Turkey yet , started a tour in European countries in November-December , 2002 . Even though Erdoğan was just the leader of the AKP at that time , he was welcomed by the leaders of the European states because he was perceived as the de facto or unofficial leader of Turkey 23 . The time of the tour was not a coincidence ; it was deliberately chosen to boost the chances of Turkey in the upcoming meeting in Copenhagen . Within a month , he visited sixteen European countries assuring European leaders that his party does not perceive the EU as a Christian club 24 . Learning that the Cyprus conflict is one of the biggest impediments on Turkey ’ s way to the EU , Erdoğan began to pressure Rauf Denktaş to accept the Annan plan as a basis for negotiations . Moreover , he created a picture that the problem was Denktaş and his policy arguing that the conflict “ is not Denktaş ’ s personal business 25 ”.
20
Hannay D ., Cyprus : The search for a solution . ( I . B . Tauris ., 2005 ), 70
21
Grigoriadis I . N ., Greek and Greek Cypriot Views of Turkey ’ s Accession to the European Union , 155
22
Oran B ., Türk Dış Politikası : Kurtuluş Savaşından Bugüne Olgular , Belgeler , Yorumlar ( 2013 ). [ Turkish Foreign Policy : Facts , Documents , Comments from the War of Independence to Today ] ( Vol . 3 ), p . 347 . İletişim Yayınları .
23
Economy , EU and Cyprus Priorities for New Turkish Government . ( 2002 , November 18 ). Euractiv . https :// www . euractiv . com / section / elections / news / economy-eu-and-cypruspriorities-for-new-turkish-government
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24
Henley J . & Black I ., Turkey Demands Talks on Joining EU , The Guardian . last modified November 27 , 2002 , https :// www . theguardian . com / world / 2002 / nov / 27 / turkey . eu
25
Smith H ., New Turkish Leader Seeks Deal in Cyprus . The Guardian , last modified January 3 , 2003 , https :// www . theguardian . com / world / 2003 / jan / 03 / cyprus . turkey
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