Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-05-18
CONTENTS
[01] SPOKESMAN - TURKEY - EU
[01] SPOKESMAN - TURKEY - EU
Government Spokesman George Lillikas has said that Cyprus would adhere
to the unanimous position of the European Council and trusts that the
EU will respect its unanimous decisions and show credibility and
consistency.
Invited to comment on press reports that Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan has asked to postpone the implementation of the Ankara
Agreement (Customs Union Protocol) for one year, Lillikas said that no
such demand had been officially submitted to the government of Cyprus
or the EU by Turkey or any EU member state.
``The government of Cyprus adheres to the unanimous position taken by
the Council of the European Union on September 21, 2005 and trusts that
the EU will respect its unanimous decisions and show credibility and
consistency,`` he said. The position is outlined in a statement issued
by Brussels to counterbalance a unilateral declaration by Ankara saying
that it does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus.
Lillikas described as provocative and unacceptable a remark by Erdogan
that unless the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots is lifted,
Turkey, being a guarantor power of Cyprus, would take action, which he
did not specify.
``There is no isolation of the Turkish Cypriots that is due to the
Greek Cypriots or the Republic of Cyprus. If there is any problem, this
is due to the Turkish invasion of 1974 and the continuous occupation of
Cyprus. Erdogan`s reference to the Treaty of Guarantee is a
provocation, since the most serious violation of the Treaty is the
invasion and occupation with the continuation of the Turkish army`s
presence in Cyprus,`` the spokesman said.
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