Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-05-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] EU - TURKEY - CYPRUS PROBLEM

[02] EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT COMMITEE - CYPRUS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

[01] EU - TURKEY - CYPRUS PROBLEM

This is stated in the text of the EU joint position presented by the EU Slovenian Presidency to Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, during the EU-Turkey Association Council.

The EU recalled its conclusions of 11 December 2006, and noted with regret that Turkey has not fulfilled its obligation of full non-discriminatory implementation of the Additional Protocol to the Association Agreement and has not made progress towards normalisation of relations with the Republic of Cyprus.

The Council said it will continue to follow up and review progress made on the issues covered by the declaration of the European Community and its Member States of 21 September 2005 in accordance with its conclusions of 11 December 2006. Swift progress on these issues is expected.

Under the Negotiating Framework and the Accession Partnership, the EU expects Turkey to actively support the ongoing process agreed on 21 March 2008 leading to a comprehensive and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem within the UN framework and in line with the principles on which the EU is founded, as laid down in Article 6(1) of the EU Treaty, and consistent with relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions, the EU joint position said.

Furthermore it underlined that this support should include concrete steps to contribute to a favourable climate for such a comprehensive settlement. The EU also underlines the importance of progress in the normalisation of bilateral relations between Turkey and all EU member states, including the Republic of Cyprus.

In this regard, the EU calls on Turkey to stop blocking the accession of Member States to international organisations and mechanisms. Furthermore, the EU recalls the sovereign rights of EU Member States to enter into bilateral agreements in accordance with the EU acquis and international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the EU 27 said.

The EU common position was adopted as representatives of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities are meeting in Cyprus to discuss substantive issues and day to day concerns, in an effort to prepare the ground for direct negotiations between the two community leaders, leading to a comprehensive settlement.

The European Union said it expects Turkey to actively support the ongoing peace process in Cyprus, aiming at a viable political settlement based on UN resolutions and EU principles.

This is stated in the text of the EU joint position presented by the EU Slovenian Presidency to Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, during the EU-Turkey Association Council.

The EU recalled its conclusions of 11 December 2006, and noted with regret that Turkey has not fulfilled its obligation of full non-discriminatory implementation of the Additional Protocol to the Association Agreement and has not made progress towards normalisation of relations with the Republic of Cyprus.

The Council said it will continue to follow up and review progress made on the issues covered by the declaration of the European Community and its Member States of 21 September 2005 in accordance with its conclusions of 11 December 2006. Swift progress on these issues is expected.

Under the Negotiating Framework and the Accession Partnership, the EU expects Turkey to actively support the ongoing process agreed on 21 March 2008 leading to a comprehensive and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem within the UN framework and in line with the principles on which the EU is founded, as laid down in Article 6(1) of the EU Treaty, and consistent with relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions, the EU joint position said.

Furthermore it underlined that this support should include concrete steps to contribute to a favourable climate for such a comprehensive settlement. The EU also underlines the importance of progress in the normalisation of bilateral relations between Turkey and all EU member states, including the Republic of Cyprus.

In this regard, the EU calls on Turkey to stop blocking the accession of Member States to international organisations and mechanisms. Furthermore, the EU recalls the sovereign rights of EU Member States to enter into bilateral agreements in accordance with the EU acquis and international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the EU 27 said.

The EU common position was adopted as representatives of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities are meeting in Cyprus to discuss substantive issues and day to day concerns, in an effort to prepare the ground for direct negotiations between the two community leaders, leading to a comprehensive settlement.

[02] EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT COMMITEE - CYPRUS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

The European Parliaments Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs is determined to call on the competent European Commissioner in order to urge Turkey to undertake responsibility regarding the problem of illegal immigration in Cyprus, Committee President Martine Roure told a press conference.

Speaking at the end of a two-day visit here by a Committee delegation, she said the purpose of the visit was to evaluate the reception places of asylum seekers and the conditions under which illegal immigrants are being kept.

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