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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-05-28
CONTENTS
[01] SPOKESMAN - EU - TURKEY
[02] DIRECT TALKS - STEPHANOU
[01] SPOKESMAN - EU - TURKEY
The government of Cyprus has expressed satisfaction with the
conclusions of Tuesdays EU-Turkey Association Council, in relation to
Cyprus. The government also said that Ankara must act in line with EU
decisions and show in practice that it supports the ongoing peace
effort, agreed by the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish
Cypriot communities.
The EU conclusions note that Turkey has not fulfilled its obligations
emanating from the Additional Protocol to the Association Agreement,
nor has it made progress towards normalisation of relations with the
Republic of Cyprus, a written statement read out by Government
Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said. The EU, the statement added, calls
on Turkey to stop blocking the accession of Cyprus to international
organisations.
It is also noted, Stefanou pointed out, that the EU expects Turkey to
actively support the ongoing process agreed on 21 March 2008 leading to
a comprehensive and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem within the
UN framework and in line with the principles on which the EU is
founded. Turkey has to align itself with the EU position, change its
stance towards Cyprus and the Cyprus problem and contribute to a
solution that reunifies the territory, the people, the institutions and
the economy of Cyprus, within the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal
federation, Stefanou said.
[02] DIRECT TALKS - STEPHANOU
Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou has stressed that direct
negotiations between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish
Cypriot communities cannot begin unless there is sufficient progress in
the ongoing discussions between teams of experts from both sides. This
progress must support direct negotiations, we must have convergence on
fundamental issues of the Cyprus problem, otherwise we will not be able
to proceed, he said after a Cabinet meeting. Bearing in mind existing
differences and the gap between the two sides on core issues, if we
proceed to direct negotiations without convergence and without a solid
basis for negotiations, the negotiations will fail and we cannot afford
another failure in efforts to find a solution, the Spokesman stressed.
The government, Stephanou noted, focuses its efforts on reaching a
positive outcome from discussions at the working groups and the
technical committees, the bicommunal teams of experts who discuss all
aspects of the Cyprus problem. Commenting on a statement by the Turkish
Foreign Minister about a partnership between two states in Cyprus,
Stephanou pointed out that the government rejects the establishment of
a new state (virgin-birth) in Cyprus.
The Greek Cypriot position, as well as UN resolutions, refers to a
transition of the Republic of Cyprus to a bi-zonal, bi-communal
federation of the Republic of Cyprus, made up of two constituent states
and one Republic of Cyprus, with a single sovereignty, citizenship, and
international personality, he said. The Spokesman noted that neither
statements from the EU nor last weeks joint statement by the two
community leaders refer to the establishment of a new state in Cyprus,
as part and parcel of a solution.
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