Cypriot government welcomes EU progress report on Turkey

The Cyprus government on Wednesday welcomed the European Commission's progress report on Turkey, saying it notes down clearly and in an objective manner that Turkey has so far not implemented the European obligations it has undertaken.

Speaking after the Commission issued its progress report on Turkey as well as the Strategy Paper, Government Spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardes said that these obligations are "noted down in detail in the relevant chapter on Cyprus in the report."

The government ascertains "many positive elements in the progress report and the Strategy Paper but there are also elements which could have been analyzed more comprehensively and accurately by the Commission", the Spokesman added.

Referring to Turkey's non-compliance with the implementation of the Ankara protocol, Pashiardes said the report notes down statements by Turkish Prime Minister Tayip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, where it was stated in the most official manner that Turkey does not intend to implement it, unless the so called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots was not lifted.

The Spokesman said that the progress report and the Strategy Paper will be examined in detail by the Cypriot government which looks forward to the discussion of these two documents at political level, the soonest possible, to determine collectively the next EU steps.

Meanwhile, Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos, who is currently visiting Croatia, said in Split that the European Commission's progress report on Turkey was on the whole positive for Cyprus.

He said the report contains quite a few positive points, although some points could have been more specific and more detailed regarding Turkey's stance.

Cyprus, which joined EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974 when Turkey militarily intervened and occupied the north of Cyprus following a coup by a group of Greek officers.

Turkey, a country aspiring to become an EU member state, does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus and refuses to open its ports and airports to Cypriot vessel and aircraft.

Source: Xinhua