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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 01-10-23Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>Tuesday, 23 October 2001CONTENTS
[01] Gunter Verheugen: EU enlargement would be inconceivable without CyprusEuropean Union Commissioner for Enlargement Commissioner Mr Gunter Verheugen said, in an interview to the German Sunday newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung on 21 October, that EU enlargement would be inconceivable without Cyprus, primarily because of the position adopted by the Greek Parliament. "There will either be an enlargement with Cyprus or there will be no speedy enlargement at all," he said.The EU Commissioner pointed out that the accession of a united Cyprus to the European Union would offer great advantages to Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots. At present there is not much anybody can do except work in the direction of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots to resume the UN-led peace talks on Cyprus, he said. Mr Verheugen said that "the window of opportunity is still open" but warned that it is slowly starting to close. "Accession negotiations with Cyprus are progressing well without anyone thinking of hindering them", he added. Membership talks with Cyprus are likely to be concluded by the second half of 2002, which will be "the moment of truth," he said. The EU Commissioner also said that there is no other political issue that the EU is so involved with, than the Cyprus problem. From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |