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[turkcyp]

US issues blunt warning
2004-12-07 | Politis | ΝΕΑ ΥΟΡΚΗ- Του Αποστόλη Ζουπανιώτη
“A ton of bricks will fall on your head if you exercise veto”

Washington issued a dire warning to the Cypriot government last week, that in case it dares to exercise veto on December 17, “a tone of bricks will fall on its head”. This blunt expression was used in consultations between US dignitaries and Cypriot officials, both in Washington and in Nicosia. According to reliable sources, the US position was explicit: Cyprus should not exercise veto and should not insist on promoting the demand for recognition from Turkey. It is pointed out, in fact, that no exchanges or promises were offered, even for the future.

“It was not the usual tactic of the carrot and the whip. Only the tactic of the stick,” the same circles mentioned.

In addition, it was made known that, besides the responsible for European issues in the Dutch Foreign Ministry, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State responsible for Cyprus Laura Kennedy made similar demarches to all the EU member-states, asking that no reference whatsoever to the need for recognition of the Republic of Cyprus from Turkey be included in the conclusions of the Summit Meeting in December.

The US considers the recognition of the Republic of Cyprus from Ankara a bilateral issue that should be settled among them.

In the meantime, US State Department Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli, asked about the issue of recognition, said that what the US supports Turkey's accession to the European Union, and the modalities for that is a matter that needs to be negotiated between the European Union, Cyprus and Turkey.

London has taken similar steps. Under Secretary of State Marc Grossman and Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Mehmet Ali Sahin discussed these issues in Washington last week. According to a diplomat, “the warm and direct support of the US government to the Fanari may not be irrelevant to the threats the US was about to launch against Cyprus. The next development will take place in Brussels, where, according to the US, the Foreign Ministers of Greece and the US, Petros Molyviatis and Colin Powell, are expected to meet. As a US source mentioned, the Cyprus issue and Turkish EU accession are expected to be high on the agenda.

[turkcyp]

Sorry!

I have opened the subject under the wrong forum. Can the admin please carry it to the "Cyprus and the European Union" Forum.

Regards

[brother]

Current Cyprus News From HR

The Cyprus government has no official information that the USA are threatening with dire repercussions, if Nicosia blocks a decision by the European Union to begin accession negotiations with Turkey, at an EU meeting next week.

Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides also said that Nicosia has the full backing of Athens and stressed that bilateral ties with Russia have always been close and friendly.

Chrysostomides explained on Tuesday that statements to the effect that ''bricks will fall'' on Cyprus if it exercises its right of veto could not be confirmed but noted that the US has officially backed Turkey's European prospective as well as the start of accession negotiations.

''However, if such remarks were made, they are counter-productive and what the US should do is to persuade Turkey to behave in a European manner, acknowledging the fundamental rules that govern EU member states in order to help itself get closer to Europe,'' he said.

Responding to questions, he said it is obvious that Nicosia has the full support of Athens and recalled the latest speech by Greek premier Costas Karamanlis that Turkey should respect international law and that its non recognition of the Republic of Cyprus and the presence of its troops on the island are ''a paradox which is inconsistent with the philosophy and the political reality within the EU.''

The Cypriot spokesman said Karamanlis will discuss the question of Cyprus with Russian President Vladimir Putin at their meeting on Thursday in Moscow.

Chrysostomides said he disagreed with press reports suggesting that Moscow has shifted its position in favor of the Turkish Cypriots, and pointed out that bilateral ties have always been ''traditionally very close and friendly.''

He said the government is in full agreement with Putin's view that people should not be isolated, a clear reference to the Turkish Cypriot community.