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Rehn: Greek Cypriots Should Also Take Steps
By Zaman, Anadolu News Agency (aa)
Published: Friday 28, 2005
zaman.com

European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn has said that not only the Turkish side but also the Greek Cypriots need to take steps for the solution of the Cyprus issue.

Expressing his confidence that Turkey's membership negotiations would begin on October 3, Rehn also determined that this and their swift continuation depended on Ankara. Rehn, who is in Davos for the World Economic Forum (WEF), said that thought here are both easy and difficult sessions to come in the screening process, Turkey had already realized the Customs Union, which is one of the significant issues of the process. Furthermore, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has said that a permanent solution about the Cyprus issue agreed by both parties is Turkey's most sincere demand.

Gul, who gave his statements before leaving to take part in the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, disclosed the Customs Union Additional Protocol would be signed on a timescale that has already been determined, in answer to a question about whether it will be signed by the end of February. Gul said this issue was solved in Brussels and protocol's absolute approval was demanded, but that the Turkish government had rejected this and went on, "signing the protocol and recognizing the Greek Cypriots and taking the necessary measures to pave the way for recognition are separate issues." Determining that implementation of the Customs Union Agreement had begun and was automatically valid for the EU member states, Gul also added that commodities were already moving freely between the Greek Cypriot Administration and Turkey.