Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-06-13

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] GOVERNMENT - EU - TURKEY

[02] EU - TURKEY

[01] GOVERNMENT - EU - TURKEY

In a written statement, issued Monday, Government Spokesman George Lillikas said that the President of the Republic, who was throughout the consultation process in communication with Minister of Foreign Affairs George Iacovou, has expressed to Iacovou and Cyprus` Permanent Representative at the EU Nicos Emiliou his gratification for the work done in Luxemburg.

Referring to the EU position regarding Chapter 25 (science and research), Lillikas noted that Cyprus has achieved its goals as regards the inclusion of serious conditions in connection with Turkey`s negotiation process with the EU.

At the same time, he added, Cyprus has sent a clear message towards Ankara that it must fulfill its obligations by October 2006.

``It is a fixed position of the government and all the political powers of Cyprus that Turkey`s European course serves the Cypriot interests as long as Turkey complies with its obligations as a candidate country,`` he said.

``The position of the Cyprus government is defined and will be defined by this basic criterion, the government will be carefully watching with the rest of its partners Turkey`s course of compliance, giving emphasis of course to obligations in connection to Cyprus,`` Lillikas said.

Pointing out the most important conclusions from the latest consultations and results in the EU, Lillikas said the 25 member states clearly warn Turkey that the progress of its negotiations with the EU will depend on the full implementation of its obligations deriving from the Association Agreement, including the additional protocol of the Customs Union as well as the Accession Partnership.

He further noted that the EU reconfirms all the elements of the counterstatement of the 25 members of 21st September 2005, which refers to Turkey`s obligations including the normalisation of relations through recognition, among other things, of the Republic of Cyprus.

Lillikas stressed that the assertive policy, and the commitment to positions of principle, which the Cyprus government is following, is fruitful.

Concluding, he warned that the EU is committed to be strict towards the evaluation of Turkey, this coming October, the result of which will exclusively depend on Turkey and the level of compliance towards its obligations, within which Cyprus holds a very special place.

[02] EU - TURKEY

Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs George Iacovou said Nicosia is satisfied with the result of the Council`s meeting, which was achieved after marathon consultations between the European partners and especially the Cypriot side, with the support of the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Austrian EU presidency.

As discussions on chapter ``science and research`` were closing for Turkey, in their position the EU Ministers underlined ``the importance for Turkey of compliance with the Association Agreement, including its Additional Protocol and the Customs Union, as well as the Accession Partnership, which constitutes a basic element of the pre-accession strategy.``

``Failure to implement its obligations in full will affect the overall progress in the negotiations. With this in mind, the Union underlines all relevant elements of the Declaration of the European Community and its Member States of 21 September 2005,`` the Ministers added.

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