Cyprus Government Spokesman Daily Briefing, 03-11-07

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From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" <dist@hri.org>

Daily briefing of the Press by the Government Spokesman

7 November 2003

At the beginning of today's briefing of the Press the Government Spokesman, Mr Kypros Chrysostomides, stated that the discussion on the reports of the European Commission was continuing, particularly on the report on Strategy which specifically stated that the absence of a solution to the Cyprus problem could constitute a serious obstacle to Turkey's European ambitions. He added that, although Turkey's reaction was that the Cyprus problem did not form part of the Copenhagen criteria, it was perceived by everyone that the phrase which was included in the Commission's Report constituted a political message to Turkey. Mr Chrysostomides said that eventually the prevalent impression was that the Cyprus problem constituted a precondition regarding Turkey's prospect for the commencement of accession negotiations.

Asked whether the Government anticipated any moves on the part of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to create impressions in view of its decision that by December 2004 it should simultaneously deal with internal reforms as well as the Cyprus problem, Mr Chrysostomides replied as follows:

"What seems to be the first reaction by Mr Gul, after the Reports of the European Commission were made public, is that every effort will be made on the part of Turkey to solve the Cyprus problem by 1 May 2004. I do not know whether this has been the outcome of the Commission's Report. However, there is this statement and at the same time there is Mr Erdogan's statement, namely that the European Union is aware of Turkey's intentions as far as the Cyprus problem is concerned and no new obstacles or conditions should be allowed to be imposed on Turkey where there are none. That is, he is trying to evade even the meaning of the political message and of the demand as expressed by the EU to Turkey in order to make real efforts for the solution of the Cyprus problem. Whether the statements by Mr Gul or others regarding the intention of solving the Cyprus problem will become a reality is an issue that remains to be seen.

Asked whether there was any information on the issue of the closed town of Famagusta and whether it would be used by Mr Denktash to create impressions, Mr Chrysostomides replied there was not any information on the issue and added that Mr Denktash and Turkish politicians had repeatedly made similar statements in the past regarding the reopening of the closed town of Famagusta, yet nothing had materialised since then. Finally, Mr Chrysostomides reiterated that the Government of Cyprus was for a long time ready to face any possibility or action on the part of the occupation regime regarding the closed town of Famagusta.

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