Cyprus news agency , Cyprus
Oct 13 2009

Cypriot president says support for Turkey’s EU accession "not unconditional"

Nicosia, 11 October: President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris
Christofias [Dhimitrios Khristofias] has stressed that Cyprus’ support
towards Turkey’s accession to the EU is not unconditional and said
that if Turkey does not implement its obligations, Cyprus and Greece
will examine possible reactions.

Addressing Sunday the anti-occupation march of the Morfou
Municipality, President Christofias also referred to the UN – led
direct negotiations, which began a year ago with a view to reach a
solution of the Cyprus problem, saying that the expectations of the
Greek Cypriot side had been greater at the beginning of the talks.

"Some progress has been achieved in the negotiations but it is the
kind of progress that does not allow me to tell you today that we have
reached an advanced stage and, what is more, to tell you that we are
close to a final solution of the problem", he said.

The Cypriot President pointed out that "this is so because, despite
our sincere efforts, the Turkish Cypriot side with the support of
Turkey, continues to put forward positions and proposals that fall
outside the framework of the UN resolutions on Cyprus, the High-Level
Agreements and the values and principles of the European Union".

He noted that the Greek Cypriot side has repeatedly stressed "to our
Turkish Cypriot compatriots and to the international community that
positions such as these are unacceptable".

"A potential adoption of such positions would lead to the acceptance
of the consequences of the occupation, to the violation of
international Treaties on human rights and fundamental freedoms and to
a solution that would be neither viable nor functional", the President
underlined.

Referring to Turkey’s accession to the European Union, he said that
Cyprus believes that Ankara’s harmonization with the acquis
communautaire and its final accession will help the country modernize
its institutions and society, which undoubtedly will be advantageous
to the region and to Cyprus itself.

"This support, however, is not unconditional. To this end, we regard
indispensable the involvement of the international factor and
especially the European Union and the exercise of influence on the
Turkish leadership so that Ankara demonstrates the necessary
conciliatory and positive approach and proceed to the implementation
of its obligations", he stressed.

Otherwise, the Cypriot President noted, "Cyprus and Greece cannot but
examine together possible reactions. Besides all the above, we hope
the official visit of the Prime Minister of Greece George Papandreou
to Cyprus is constructive, productive, and fruitful in this respect as
well".

He reiterated that the goal is to achieve a just, viable and
functional settlement leading to a United Federal Cyprus Republic,
with a single sovereignty, a single international personality and
citizenship.

The solution, he said, will ensure the peaceful coexistence of all
Cypriots, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and
Latins on the island, as well as the prosperity and progress of future
generations and will also ensure political equality between the two
communities, as this is described in the relevant resolutions of the
United Nations Security Council.

"I would like to assert, once again, that our Turkish Cypriot
compatriots are Cypriot citizens and that I will continue to fight
with consistency for their rights and best interests. However, these
rights cannot be applied at the expense of the rights of the larger
community, the Greek Cypriot community. There must be mutual respect
and understanding", President Christofias went on to say.

He expressed the wish that during the second round of talks, the
Turkish positions will be reviewed "so that we may be able to reach as
soon as possible, without arbitration and without pressures through
artificial time frames, the much desired solution to the problem, an
agreed solution which will be the result of negotiations between the
two communities and which will be presented to the people of Cyprus
for approval in separate and simultaneous referenda. We will not
accept given solutions".

President Christofias pointed out that the success of our efforts for
a solution to the problem depends on Turkey’s will and policies.

Turkey, he said, has an obligation to contribute to the efforts
towards reaching a solution.

"The withdrawal of the Turkish troops, the end of the policy of
colonization and the settlement of the issue of security, depend on
Turkey. The solution to the Cyprus problem serves the very interests
of the Turkish people. Though in theory Turkey declares that it
supports the talks, in practice it continues to refuse to implement
the resolutions of the United Nations on Cyprus and the resolutions of
the Council of the European Union calling upon Turkey to fulfil its
obligations towards the European Union and the Republic of Cyprus", he
continued.

President Christofias said that in addition "to its refusal to
implement the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, to
this day, it stubbornly refuses to proceed to the normalization of its
relations with the Republic of Cyprus and its recognition, as
envisaged in its commitments towards the European Union and its
member-states".

At the same time, he added, Turkey continues efforts to undermine the
unity and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus through
the continuous upgrading of the occupational regime.

"On the other hand, we have repeatedly expressed our readiness for a
dialogue with Turkey, in parallel to the on-going talks with the
Turkish Cypriot leader, in order to strengthen the possibilities for a
positive outcome of the negotiations", he said.

President Christofias reassured that "the obstacles and difficulties
we find in our way and the stance of the occupying power do not
dishearten us".

"With patience, consistency and decisiveness, we will continue our
struggle return to the lemon blossomed arms of Morfou, to the
picturesque harbour of Kyrenia, the golden sands of Famagusta and to
all our occupied towns and villages, so that our children and
grandchildren are able to live peacefully with our Turkish Cypriot
compatriots in a united, free, independent and prosperous homeland",
he said.

Referring to the anti-occupation march, he said that the event "sends
out the powerful message that the refugees, the relatives of our
missing persons and the Cyprus people in general do not forget".

"Anti-occupation events like this one prove that our people will not
compromise with the faits accomplis of the Turkish occupation and they
will continue to fight and demand the respect and safeguard of their
human rights, including the right of all refugees to voluntarily
return to their homes and properties", the Cypriot President
concluded.