Cyprus-Forum.com

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PERMANENT REMOVAL OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM LIES IN POSITIVE RESULTS AT TALKS`

The MP from the German Federal Republic Gerd Andres, also responsible for Turkey and Cyprus Affairs on behalf of the German Social Democrat Party (SPD), has said ‘there’s no way back’ on the Greek Cypriot Side’s unilateral membership into the European Union.

Andres, who has been holding a series of contacts in North Cyprus upon the invitation from the ruling Republican Turkish Party, touched upon the Cyprus issue at a conference he gave at the Girne American University yesterday.

During the conference entitled ‘The Latest Developments on the Cyprus Issue within the EU’, the German MP said the Greek Cypriot side was given its unilateral membership to the Union despite of the general concept that a country facing internal and border-related problems can’t be an EU member.

Gerd Andres said he had to face with reactions by the Greek Cypriot Side for entering into the island from the Ercan Airport.

His requests to become a Rapporteur at negotiations and to meet with officials from the ‘Republic of Cyprus’ were also rejected, he added.

`However, when I arrived in Cyprus last October with an EU delegation and had my arrival and departure from the South, I had the opportunity to meet with representatives from both sides` Andres stated.

The Greek Cypriot side lines up with the view that only they have the right to representation, the German MP said.

`This problem needs to be considered in a different way and the isolations faced by North Cyprus should be lifted` he stressed.

`I’m here to receive further information about the Cyprus negotiations. It’s very gladsome to see that the two leaders continue with their dense meetings with efforts aimed at establishing a bi-communal federal state with one single international identity in the international arena, on the basis of political equality` Gerd Andres went on saying.

Stating that the result of general election in the TRNC which is to take place on 19th April will determine the aftermath of negotiations, German MP said the most important thing is to achieve a positive outcome at the end of peace talks.

He explained that the international isolation of North Cyprus can be lifted in a way, but the permanent removal of the Cyprus problem depends on a positive result at negotiations.

`The EU is facing with various internal difficulties day by day and the solution of the Cyprus problem will help the Union in that sense` he added.

Yesterday, Andres was received by President Mehmet Ali Talat and Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer as part of his contacts on the island.