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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 07-03-25
CONTENTS
[01] PAPADOPOULOS - EU - BLAIR
[01] PAPADOPOULOS - EU - BLAIR
Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos has described very useful and
constructive his meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, on the
sidelines of the Informal Meeting of the EU leaders to mark the 50th
anniversary since the signing of the Treaty of Rome. The President told
a press conference that the two discussed the Cyprus problem, Turkeys
relations with the EU, the regulation for trade with the areas where
the government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective
control and bilateral issues.
In his statements, President Papadopoulos said we pursue restoration of
our relations with England and an improvement of our bilateral
relations and our relations within the EU.
I have told Mr. Blair that I believe the regulation (for trade of
products exported to Europe from areas which are not under the control
of the government), does not reflect correctly the decision taken at
the EU Council of Ministers of 24 April 2004, he said, noting that the
regulation does not have the correct legal basis and it includes wrong
provisions which do not correspond to the objectives set out by the EU,
namely to lift the economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriots with a
view to create economic integration and the reunification of Cyprus.
Measures which promote dividing trends or perpetuate them, surely do
not promote the aim of the regulation, the President added.
Regarding Turkeys accession to the EU, the President said it is now
governed by the decision taken at the EU Council last December, where
it was said that eight chapters will not open, and the remaining
chapters will be considered according to the acquis communautaire.
Cyprus has stated from the beginning that we think it is unlikely and
unfair that when Turkey shows such a negative attitude on Cyprus,
blocking our accession in many other international fora, where they
have the power to exercise veto, to expect from us to continue showing
good will and continue giving our consent to the formulation common
positions, he remarked.
Ïn the discussions at the Berlin summit, Papadopoulos said the meeting
aimed at reconciling the different views expressed, especially on the
constitutional treaty and the adoption of what some members call a road
map and others a timetable by June this year. The prevailing situation
is that something must be done, otherwise the EU would create doubts as
to its ability to decide on other more important issues, he said.
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