Cyprus Government Spokesman Daily Briefing, 03-11-05

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Daily briefing of the Press by the Government Spokesman

5/11/2003

Briefing the journalists after the publication of the European Commission's Progress Report on Cyprus, the Government Spokesman Mr Kypros Chrysostomides said the following:

"The Cyprus Government expresses its full satisfaction over the content of the Progress Report on Cyprus. The European Commission considers that Cyprus is ready to accede to the European Union and that it complies fully with its commitments towards the acquis communautaire. A few observations are of minor importance and Cyprus will be completely ready for its official accession on 1st May 2004.

The Government also expresses its satisfaction for the sole reference on the Cyprus problem in the report on Cyprus, where the Commission expresses the wish to see the accession of a reunited Cyprus to the EU and that if this is not achieved by 1st May, then according to Protocol 10 of the Accession Treaty, the implementation of the acquis communautaire in the area which is not under the control of the Cyprus Republic will be postponed.

Furthermore, the Government expresses satisfaction over the content of the Reports concerning Turkey, first with the General Report on EU Strategy for the three candidate countries and the Progress Report on Turkey. "

The Government Spokesman also noted that the Commission called on Turkey to contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem and pointed out that the absence of a solution would constitute a serious obstacle to Turkey's European aspirations. He added that there were references to Cyprus in the report on human rights, such as the non conformity of Turkey to the decisions of the ECHR by not paying compensation in the case of Mrs Titina Loizidou and its non conformity to the Court's judgements for respect of the right to education in Cyprus.

Mr Chrysostomides underlined that the Commission expressed its opposition to the recent so called customs union that Turkey had signed with the occupation regime, which as it stated, was contrary to international law and Turkey's obligations on the basis of its own Customs Union with the EU. He said that the Commission called on Turkey to lift the restriction in the anchoring of ships under the Cyprus flag in Turkish ports and to conclude the free trade agreement with Cyprus as requested by its Customs Union agreement with the EU. Mr Chrysostomides underlined that the Report observed that Turkey did not fulfill the political and economic criteria and called on Turkey to take measures for macroeconomic stability.

Mr Chrysostomides also stated that for the first time Mr Prodi and Mr Verheugen, in their reports before the European Parliament, stressed that the EU wished the accession of a reunited Cyprus and that Turkey should make every effort towards solving the Cyprus problem so that it would not constitute an obstacle to its European course and that the EU was ready to contribute in every way towards this direction.

In addition, the Government Spokesman pointed out that the contents of the Reports reflected the outcome of the policy that the Government had followed in the recent past towards the EU. HE reiterated that the Greek Cypriot side wanted a solution to the Cyprus problem before 1st May 2004 and that it was ready to resume peace negotiations based on a UN plan as soon as it was invited by the UN Secretary-General.

The Spokesman added: "It is clear that the fact that the UN Secretary General does not invite the sides to negotiations is due to Turkey's negative stand and subsequently to that of the Turkish Cypriot side which is evident to the EU."

Mr Chrysostomides was then invited to comment on the statements made by Mr Gul, namely that Turkey would make greater efforts to solve the Cyprus problem and replied as follows: "I think the Turkish leadership has realised that Turkey's European path goes through the Cyprus problem."

Commenting on the letter sent by Mr Denktash to the UN Secretary-General, Mr Chrysostomides said that there was nothing new in it. "It is a repetition of Mr Denktash's positions, a continuation of his insistence on recognition, separate sovereignty, recognition of the so-called realities and also that Cyprus' participation in the EU will only be possible if Turkey is a member, too."

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