CYPRUS, ARMENIA BACK ACCESSION OF "MODERN" TURKEY TO EU
Cyprus News Agency
July 7 2009
Yerevan, 7 Jul: Cyprus and Armenia are clearly in favour of the
accession of a modern Turkey to the EU, the Presidents of the two
countries said here on Monday, after talks at the Presidential Palace.
Responding to a question, at a joint press conference with his Armenian
counterpart Serzh Sargsyan, Cyprus President Demetris Christofias
[Dhimitrios Khristofias] said there are common positions on this
issue with Sargsyan.
Referring to the ongoing direct negotiations on the Cyprus question,
Christofias said there are very important issues on which there is
disagreement, adding that there is convergence on other issues.
He said there is disagreement on the participation of the island’s
two communities in government, the right to property, the presence
of the united federal Republic of Cyprus to the EU, financial issues
and the presence of 160 thousand Turkish settlers on the island.
Referring to the issue of security and guarantees, he said that "we
look forward to seeing Turkey, as a modern state, understanding that
it cannot hold the Republic of Cyprus a hostage."
Christofias said that bilateral relations in certain areas can be
enhanced, noting that meetings between entrepreneurs must take place
both in Nicosia and Yerevan and bilateral agreements must be signed
the soonest possible.
Armenia has a stable friend in the EU, a supporter on which it can
rely, President Christofias said, adding that Armenia is in dialogue
with the EU and implements plenty of programmes. Cyprus, he pointed
out, is ready to help overcome any problems in this dialogue.
Sargsyan underlined that if Turkey becomes an EU member, it will be
a country with European values "and we want such a country next to us."
President Christofias said that "we are in favour of the accession of
a modernised Turkey with a European behaviour," noting that Turkey
must not join the EU simply because it is a big country and a major
market, but it must accept and implement the accession conditions
and values of the EU.
He noted that if Turkey wants to join the EU, it cannot continue
to occupy part of an EU member state, not to recognize an EU member
state and continue to hold its ports and airports closed to Cypriot
vessels and airplanes.
Christofias welcomed the initiative of his Armenian counterpart to
smooth Armenia’s relations with Turkey and noted that Turkey is a
difficult interlocutor. He said there is no other alternative than
the peaceful settlement of disputes, but this does not mean that
either Cyprus or Armenia will abrogate their principles.
The President said that Cyprus continues to condemn the Armenian
genocide, adding that "I consider Turkish Cypriots as our brothers
and children of the same country, but our neighbouring country has
no right to impose its will."
The Armenian President said that Armenia and Cyprus support each
other’s positions on the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Cyprus
question and the settlement of problems through negotiations in the
framework of international legitimacy.
He also noted that Cyprus is a friendly country which opened its
gates to the victims of the Armenian genocide and welcomed them with
open arms.
Sargsyan said that bilateral financial relations are not on the
right level, adding that "we can do plenty of things" towards further
developing these ties, adding that establishing an interstate committee
is very important.
He noted that cooperation with Cyprus gives a new impetus to
cooperation between Armenia and European structures, adding that
Armenia’s participation in the Eastern Partnership opens new horizons
for cooperation between Cyprus and Armenia.
President Christofias invited the President of Armenia to pay an
official visit to Cyprus.
President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have
been engaged in direct negotiations with a view to reach a settlement
of the problem of Cyprus divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and
occupied 37 per cent of its territory.