03.JUL.09
Ambassador of Sweden to Cyprus Ingemar Lindahl, whose country took over the EU presidency on July 1 said yesterday that the EU will have a big post-settlement role in Cyprus, reports CNA.
Lindahl said both sides in Cyprus are open to “an appropriate EU involvement” in efforts to solve the Cyprus problem and the EU has to try to assist with its expertise, something it has already done to some extent.
He added that clearly the process for a Cyprus settlement is a Cypriot process within the framework of the good offices of the UN Secretary General
When asked if there should be EU guarantees in case of a settlement, Lindahl said that the fact that Cyprus is a member of the EU is a guarantee.
Asked about the opening of more negotiating chapters with Turkey during the Swedish Presidency, the ambassador said there are three chapters that could open during his country’s presidency: Social Policy, Environment and Competition.
“We hope to be able to open a couple of chapters during the Fall,” he said, pointing out that Turkey had to prepare certain legislations.
“We will try to open all three, if possible. But it depends. It might be only one. We will see,”
SOURCE: Famagusta Gazette
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It just gets better and better.....
EU tells Turkey that it can stick its Guarantor Treaty:
When asked if there should be EU guarantees in case of a settlement, Lindahl said that the fact that Cyprus is a member of the EU is a guarantee.