Greeks want Azerbaijan’s written commitment on not recognizing
Northern Cyprus

22 March 2006 [23:54] – _Today.Az_
() Problem caused by the flight
from Azerbaijan to Northern Cyprus on June 27 last year has remained
unsolved.

International Crisis Group (ICG) representative in Baku, Vugar Gojayev
told APA that ICG has come to this conclusion after meeting with
parliamentarians from Brussels and the Greek Cyprus.

“I remind that this flight directly influenced the talks between
Azerbaijan and the EU and delayed the talk process for 3 months. Talks
with Armenia and Georgia were also suspended as the talks were held
simultaneously. When representatives came to Azerbaijan from the EU,
Azerbaijani side said that agreement was reached with the Greece and
the problem was settled. But ICG’s observations show that the problem
has remained unsolved.”

He said that the Greek Cyprus would vote against approval of action
plan between Azerbaijan and the EU.

“The Greek Cyprus worries that Azerbaijan will recognize the
independence of Northern Cyprus after approval of action plan between
Azerbaijan and the EU. So, Greece stipulates that official Baku
should undertake commitment never to recognize the independence of
Northern Cyprus Turkish Republic and not to implement flights to
there.”

The Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Taghizade told APA that Cyprus
was not discussed at the talks held in Brussels on March 6.URL:
l