Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-09-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] LILLIKAS - TURKEY - EU

[02] DANISH PM - VISIT TO CYPRUS

[01] LILLIKAS - TURKEY - EU

Lillikas said the position of the Republic of Cyprus on this issue "is and remains steadfast," noting that "we are showing in practice that we will not concede," but "where we can," that is regarding the opening of chapters, "the policy we are following is such that does not allow the smooth accession course of Turkey."

The Minister, who was speaking on Saturday evening at Larnaca Airport on his return from Brussels, was asked about the warnings of the Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs towards Turkey regarding the fulfillment of its commitments towards Cyprus and the EU and the implementation of the protocol extending its customs union to the ten new EU members.

Lillikas said if Turkey continued to maintain the same stance, then "there will be relative reactions and a relative stance on behalf of the Cypriot government."

Replying to questions, Lillikas said "we do not accept that the acquis communautaire and the commitments of the candidate countries have to do with independent matters, or that their implementation and response to the acquis communautaire permits anyone to negotiate the acquis or demand anything in exchange."

In this direction, he said, "we do not accept the linking of irrelevant things, meaning that the developments in the Cyprus problem cannot be linked to Turkey`s obligations."

[02] DANISH PM - VISIT TO CYPRUS

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