Cyprus PIO: Government Spokesman on Cyprus-EU dialogue, 97-02-25

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

The Government Spokesman on the decision of the EU General Affairs Council regarding the Cyprus-EU structured dialogue

25/02/97

The 15 EU Foreign Ministers failed to adopt a common position which was to be reflected in the communique that would follow the political dialogue scheduled to take place today.

As a result, it was decided to postpone the political dialogue for a more suitable time so that deliberations might continue to reach agreement on a text acceptable to all the member-states.

Our position is that the proposed text could not be accepted. Greece very rightly did not accept the proposed wording because such wording would be subject to a number of interpretations some of which would be contrary to the spirit of the decision of 6 March 1995. As the alternative phrases proposed by Greece, which were within the spirit of this decision, were not accepted, Greece naturally could not accept the text of the joint statement as proposed by the Dutch presidency.

We consider that the German, British and French stand was not clear because it was subject to various interpretations. Should anyone want to take advantage of the proposed wording in the future, it would complicate the question of Cyprus' accession in a manner which would facilitate neither Cyprus' course towards accession nor the solution of the Cyprus problem. It would, at the same time, complicate in general the question of EU enlargement.

The above-mentioned countries say that what they want is merely to express their desire for all the Cypriot people to participate in the accession process. However, when they refused to accept the alternative phrases that were proposed, which could have addressed their own concern and at the same time reaffirmed the decision of 6 March 1995, this raises certain question marks and gives Greece the right not to agree.

25/02/1997

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