PRESIDENT TURKEY EU
Agamemnon
President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias has stressed
that Cyprus support towards Turkeys accession to the EU is not
unconditional and said that if Turkey does not implement its
obligations, Cyprus and Greece will examine possible reactions.
Addressing Sunday the anti-occupation march of the Morfou Municipality,
President Christofias also referred to the UN led direct negotiations,
which began a year ago with a view to reach a solution of the Cyprus
problem, saying that the expectations of the Greek Cypriot side had
been greater at the beginning of the talks.
Some progress has been achieved in the negotiations but it is the kind
of progress that does not allow me to tell you today that we have
reached an advanced stage and, what is more, to tell you that we are
close to a final solution of the problem, he said.
The Cypriot President pointed out that this is so because, despite our
sincere efforts, the Turkish Cypriot side with the support of Turkey,
continues to put forward positions and proposals that fall outside the
framework of the UN resolutions on Cyprus, the High-Level Agreements
and the values and principles of the European Union.
He noted that the Greek Cypriot side has repeatedly stressed to our
Turkish Cypriot compatriots and to the international community that
positions such as these are unacceptable.
A potential adoption of such positions would lead to the acceptance of
the consequences of the occupation, to the violation of international
Treaties on human rights and fundamental freedoms and to a solution
that would be neither viable nor functional, the President underlined.
Referring to Turkeys accession to the European Union, he said that
Cyprus believes that Ankaras harmonization with the acquis
communautaire and its final accession will help the country modernize
its institutions and society, which undoubtedly will be advantageous to
the region and to Cyprus itself.
This support, however, is not unconditional. To this end, we regard
indispensable the involvement of the international factor and
especially the European Union and the exercise of influence on the
Turkish leadership so that Ankara demonstrates the necessary
conciliatory and positive approach and proceed to the implementation of
its obligations, he stressed.
Otherwise, the Cypriot President noted, Cyprus and Greece cannot but
examine together possible reactions. Besides all the above, we hope the
official visit of the Prime Minister of Greece George Papandreou to
Cyprus is constructive, productive, and fruitful in this respect as
well.
He reiterated that the goal is to achieve a just, viable and functional
settlement leading to a United Federal Cyprus Republic, with a single
sovereignty, a single international personality and citizenship.
The solution, he said, will ensure the peaceful coexistence of all
Cypriots, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and
Latins on the island, as well as the prosperity and progress of future
generations and will also ensure political equality between the two
communities, as this is described in the relevant resolutions of the
United Nations Security Council.
I would like to assert, once again, that our Turkish Cypriot
compatriots are Cypriot citizens and that I will continue to fight with
consistency for their rights and best interests. However, these rights
cannot be applied at the expense of the rights of the larger community,
the Greek Cypriot community. There must be mutual respect and
understanding, President Christofias went on to say.
He expressed the wish that during the second round of talks, the
Turkish positions will be reviewed so that we may be able to reach as
soon as possible, without arbitration and without pressures through
artificial time frames, the much desired solution to the problem, an
agreed solution which will be the result of negotiations between the
two communities and which will be presented to the people of Cyprus for
approval in separate and simultaneous referenda. We will not accept
given solutions.
President Christofias pointed out that the success of our efforts for a
solution to the problem depends on Turkeys will and policies.
Turkey, he said, has an obligation to contribute to the efforts towards
reaching a solution.
The withdrawal of the Turkish troops, the end of the policy of
colonization and the settlement of the issue of security, depend on
Turkey. The solution to the Cyprus problem serves the very interests of
the Turkish people. Though in theory Turkey declares that it supports
the talks, in practice it continues to refuse to implement the
resolutions of the United Nations on Cyprus and the resolutions of the
Council of the European Union calling upon Turkey to fulfill its
obligations towards the European Union and the Republic of Cyprus, he
continued.
President Christofias said that in addition to its refusal to implement
the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, to this day,
it stubbornly refuses to proceed to the normalization of its relations
with the Republic of Cyprus and its recognition, as envisaged in its
commitments towards the European Union and its member-states.
At the same time, he added, Turkey continues efforts to undermine the
unity and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus through
the continuous upgrading of the occupational regime.
On the other hand, we have repeatedly expressed our readiness for a
dialogue with Turkey, in parallel to the on-going talks with the
Turkish Cypriot leader, in order to strengthen the possibilities for a
positive outcome of the negotiations, he said.
President Christofias reassured that the obstacles and difficulties we
find in our way and the stance of the occupying power do not dishearten
us.
With patience, consistency and decisiveness, we will continue our
struggle return to the lemon blossomed arms of Morfou, to the
picturesque harbour of Kyrenia, the golden sands of Famagusta and to
all our occupied towns and villages, so that our children and
grandchildren are able to live peacefully with our Turkish Cypriot
compatriots in a united, free, independent and prosperous homeland, he
said.
Referring to the anti-occupation march, he said that the event sends
out the powerful message that the refugees, the relatives of our
missing persons and the Cyprus people in general do not forget.
Anti-occupation events like this one prove that our people will not
compromise with the faits accomplis of the Turkish occupation and they
will continue to fight and demand the respect and safeguard of their
human rights, including the right of all refugees to voluntarily return
to their homes and properties, the Cypriot President concluded.