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

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

CONTENTS

[01] PAPADOPOULOS - TURKEY - EU

[02] FM - EU COMMISSIONER

[03] SARKOZY - TURKEY

[04] FORMER FM - NAM

[01] PAPADOPOULOS - TURKEY - EU

In statements before departing to Helsinki, where he will participate in the 6th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), President Papadopoulos said that the EU should not give the impression that Turkey can continue unhindered its EU procedure, without even respecting the obligations it undertook towards the EU.

He explained that in such an event, the credibility of the EU would be at stake, and it would lead to further dispute regarding the EU Turkey relations.

Invited to comment on Ankaras refusal to meet its EU obligations, President Papadopoulos said that the EU adheres by its position that Turkey should respect its commitments, including the ones it undertook towards the Republic of Cyprus, in line with the EU - Turkey negotiating framework and the September 21, 2005 EU counterstatement, on Turkeys unilateral statement that it does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus.

We seek to avert any kind of crisis, because I believe that the general impression in Europe is that it would be a bad development if Turkeys EU course faces insurmountable difficulties, the President stated.

He added that this would be a negative development, for all parties involved, including Cyprus.

There is something even worse. To give the impression that Turkey can continue, unhindered, its EU course, without meeting its obligations it undertook towards the EU, he continued.

The EU, the President said, is working on various proposals to overcome any difficulties regarding the EU Turkey relations, and expressed hope that the European Commissions assessment report on Turkey in October, will offer some ways out.

All countries, aspiring to become EU member states, are subject to the same rules and regulations, President Papadopoulos said, adding ``Turkey should not be treated differently, regardless of how much important this country is for Europe and our region``.

``Turkey is obliged to respect its obligations, otherwise its accession procedure will have unfavorable consequences``, he told reporters.

Referring to the bicommunal discussions aiming to implement the July 8th agreement between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot community, Tassos Papadopoulos and Mehmet Ali Talat respectively, he said that both sides must the good will to comply with the July 8th statement.

Papadopoulos and Talat agreed on 8 July 2006, during a meeting in Nicosia in the presence of UN Undersecretary General for political affairs Ibrahim Gambari, to begin a process of bicommunal discussions on issues that affect the day-to-day life of the people and concurrently those that concern substantive issues, both contributing to a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem.

It is not enough only to have a good climate, nor is it possible to start full discussion, for two reasons. Firsty, UN Secretary General has clearly stated that he is not willing to begin a new initiative unless there is good will on both sides and progress on the ground in promoting the issues of substance, he said.

Secondly, because one or more meetings between the leaders of both communities for the discussion of core issues of the Cyprus problem, without preparation, analysis, and negotiation on the aspects of substantive issues, would inevitably lead to a new deadlock, the President continued.

``A second failure, he stressed, would be a very bad development, because wrong messages will be given, that the Cyprus problem can not be solved and the only conclusion would be to either attain the status quo or partition``.

President Papadopoulos is accompanied in Finland by Minister of Foreign Affairs George Lillikas and Director of his Diplomatic Office Tasos Tzionis.

From Finland, he will head for New York, to address the United Nations` General Assembly.

Cyprus is an EU member state since May 1st 2004.

The Republic of Cyprus is divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

Although Turkey singed in July 2005 the protocol extending its customs union with all ten EU member states, including the Republic of Cyprus, it still refuses to ratify it and open its ports and airports to Cypriot vessel and aircraft, claiming that it does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus.

In September 21, 2005 the EU issued a counter - declaration on Turkeys unilateral declaration that it does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus, urging Turkey to implement the customs union protocol and normalize its relations with Cyprus.

[02] FM - EU COMMISSIONER

Lillikas was flying Saturday for Finland to accompany Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos at the two-day ASEM-EU-Asia summit to be attended by European and Asian leaders.

This week Rehn called on Turkey to ``respect its obligations`` by fully extending its customs agreement to EU member Cyprus despite the absence of diplomatic relations between the two governments.

Earlier this year, he warned failure to do so by Ankara would cause a ``train crash`` in Europe.

[03] SARKOZY - TURKEY

According to AFP, Sarkozy, a front-runner ahead of next year`s French presidential election, specifically called for a break in accession talks while Turkey persists with its embargo against Cypriot ships and aircraft using its ports and airports.

[04] FORMER FM - NAM

As a NAM co-founder Cyprus played a key role in the policy followed by the Movement but since its entry into the European Union, in 2004, the east Mediterranean island Republic withrew as a member from the Movement and has been granted the status of the guest country.

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