Cyprus-Forum.com

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Turkey decision ‘at the last minute’
By Stefanos Evripidou


PRESIDENT Tassos Papadopoulos yesterday made clear that the decision on whether Turkey will be granted a date to start EU accession negotiations would be made at the very last moment and not in the run-up to the crucial EU summit next week.

Addressing his party (DIKO)’s national conference yesterday, the President stressed that nothing he said now would reflect in anyway on the government’s final decision at next week’s European Council since the decision would be taken at the last minute.
He noted that the hottest topic right now was the “dilemma over what will happen at the European Council” on December 17.

Papadopoulos repeated that the government was not against giving Turkey a date, under the condition however, that it fulfils its obligations as a member state, to the EU and the Republic of Cyprus, referring specifically to signing the commerce agreement, which would be tantamount to recognition of the Republic, he added.

Papadopoulos rejected the view that Turkey’s obligations stopped in April and called on the country to withdraw its forces from the island and end Turkish occupation before or on December 17.

He called for a resumption of talks under UN auspices to make the Annan plan more viable and functional, but this time with a more active role for the EU.

“We remain committed and dedicated to a bizonal, bicommunal federation. We must pursue a resumption of the intercommunal dialogue under the UN auspices and with a more active involvement on the part of the EU, so as to bring about the necessary improvements and additions” to the Annan Plan in light of UN resolutions, international law and the acquis communautaire.

Papadopoulos recognised that the status quo was “unacceptable and at the same time dangerous for both communities”.