by brother » Fri Oct 15, 2004 4:28 pm
The Cyprus Weekly 15 October 2004
Tassos takes message to Finland and Estonia
President Papadopoulos stressed during visits to Finland and Estonia this week that Cyprus does not object to Turkey’s accession to the European Union and does not wish to prove an obstacle to this process provided Ankara accepts European values and principles and desists from military interventions in other countries.
A Turkey complying fully with the acquis communautaire and respecting all the principles and values of the EU, such as human rights and resistance from military intervention would be beneficial for the Greek Cypriots, the Turkish Cypriots, the Turks and the EU itself, he added.
In Helsinki, Papadopoulos held talks with President Tarja Halonen and Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen. He later went to Tallin (via Moscow) where he discussed Cyprus, bilateral relations and EU issues with Estonia’s President Arnold Routel.
His hosts expressed support for Cyprus’ sovereignty, and the hope that despite the disappointing referendum result last April, a way would be found for the reunification of the island, now that Turkey was aspiring to join the EU.
President Halonen said a Cyprus settlement would benefit the region and Europe in general. The current situation with Cyprus as a full member and Turkey aspiring to join the Union was a "historically good phase".
Prime Minister Vanhanen said Finland had hoped for a positive result in the April referendum. But he believed the island’s reunification could become a reality in the future. At present Helsinki did not have a specific policy on this matter "but we hope, just as the whole of the EU does, to see the island united". Finland was ready to help.
President Papadoploulos told newsmen that Turkey’s European aspirations could provide a very propitious opportunity for the start of a fresh effort through dialogue to solve the Cyprus problem.
In Tallin, Papadopoulos said his government was "very keen to see a revival of talks" for a settlement, adding "we would like Turkey to respond to the concerns of the Greek Cypriots regarding its attitude towards Cyprus".
The Estonian President said: "We support Cyprus," but would not go into details, saying the various issues were being discussed at the EU.
Speaking at a dinner in Helsinki, Papadopoulos said while Cyprus was in principle positively disposed towards Turkey’s EU membership, the occupation of Cyprus and its concomitant phenomena could not be relegated to the status of a non-issue in the relations between Turkey and the European Union.
"Furthermore a European Union candidate country aspiring for a date for accession negotiations cannot, in good faith, refuse to extend to a Member State treatment equal to that accorded to the rest
of the European Partners,'' he added.
"Approaches which disregard the legal and political obligations of Turkey vis-a-vis the Republic of Cyprus as a Member State of the European Union, disinsentivize any future effort for a solution that will bring about the political and economic re-unification of Cyprus".
In her speech Halonen said that with the beginning of Turkey's accession negotiations, the EU would promote Turkey's progress and that would have a "positive impact on efforts for a Cyprus settlement.''
As regards the results of a referendum last April, on a UN proposed solution plan for a Cyprus settlement, the Finnish President said that ''despite our disappointment in spring, Finland is convinced that the Cyprus government is engaged in reuniting'' the island.
Halonen expressed hope that the line dividing Cyprus will be history, as was the case in other parts of Europe.
Papadopoulos reiterated his commitment to a solution of a bicommunal bizonal federation that would "safeguard functional and viable state structures, the genuine re-unification of the country, the health of its economy and the interests of the people of Cyprus as a whole".
He added that ''in rejecting the Annan Plan, by a 76% majority, the Greek Cypriots did not reject the solution of the Cyprus problem, nor did they reject the re-unification of their country. They rejected that particular plan, judging that it did not provide for real reunification of their county, nor the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation army, nor a functional and viable solution".
"I firmly believe that the referenda of April last on the Annan Plan are not the end of the way,'' Papadopoulos stressed, adding that ''the end of the way will only be a just, functional and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, based on an amended and agreed upon version of Annan V that will address the legitimate concerns of Greek Cypriots without, necessarily, depriving Turkish Cypriots of rights and privileges accorded to them.''
As regards the enhancing of the economic development of the Turkish Cypriots, Papadopoulos said ''we fervently support'' it, but noted that it should be pursued in the context of the fundamental aim of reuniting Cyprus in accordance with the Conclusions of the European
Union's General Affairs Council of 26 April 2004.
"All efforts in this direction should neither subvert international legality nor encourage separatist tendencies, which would entrench the island's division".
Thanks
He thanked the Government of Finland for the understanding it exhibited vis-a-vis the position of the Government of Cyprus in recent discussions in the COREPER of the European Union of two proposals, for the economic assistance to the Turkish Cypriot community and for trade and commerce.
''We ask the international community to appreciate that the so-called 'economic isolation' of the Turkish
Cypriots, is, to a great extent, self-imposed and a result of separatist and secessionist policies engaged pursuant to the political aim of the Turkish Cypriot leadership to be elevated to the status of a separate legal entity or statehood. An eventuality which the Government of Cyprus will never accept.''
