Cyprus president demands EU action on Turkey
Cyprus president demands EU action on Turkey
15:11, November 27, 2009 
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Cyprus President Demetris Christofias said on Thursday that he will demand common action by the European Union next month when the European Council meets to evaluate Turkey's progress in negotiations to join the bloc.
He was commenting on a letter he has sent to all other EU leaders setting out what he said were Turkey's obligations both in connection with the long-standing Cyprus issue and its drive to join the European Union.
"It is a reminder, a plea, but also a demand that they (European leaders) show in a practical way their solidarity they declare should exist between member states," he told a Greek language radio station operating in London.
The two-page letter was published Thursday by a newspaper in Nicosia and its authenticity was confirmed by Christofias.
It lists four obligations by Turkey which Christofias says have been set down by the EU but have not been honored by Ankara.
These obligations include Turkey's support for the negotiations on a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, the withdrawal of Turkish forces from the island of Cyprus, and Turkey's recognition of the Republic of Cyprus.
President Christofias' letter accused Turkey that instead of supporting efforts to solve the Cyprus problem it has engaged in "provocative and inaccurate terminology" in an attempt to disengage from agreements reached at his talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.
He warned that unless there is what he called "visible signs" of a changed attitude on behalf of Turkey, Cyprus will feel obliged to review its position "in consultation with partners towards Turkish accession negotiations in the December European Council, and to take specific measures".
Those measures are not listed in the letter, but Cyprus government sources said they may include blocking more chapters of Turkey's negotiations with the EU or even blocking the adoption of a European Council decision on the continuation of the talks.
Eight out of the 35 negotiations chapters have already be frozen by the EU because of Turkey's failure to harmonize its policies with those of the bloc.
A draft decision document prepared by the EU Swedish presidency does mention that Turkey has failed to fulfill its commitments towards Cyprus but it makes no mention of possible sanctions on Turkey.
Turkey sent troops and occupied the northern part of the island in 1974 in response to a coup by a group of Greek army officers. Ankara has refused to recognize the government of Cyprus Republic, which only effectively controls the Greek Cypriot south.
Source: Xinhua
He was commenting on a letter he has sent to all other EU leaders setting out what he said were Turkey's obligations both in connection with the long-standing Cyprus issue and its drive to join the European Union.
"It is a reminder, a plea, but also a demand that they (European leaders) show in a practical way their solidarity they declare should exist between member states," he told a Greek language radio station operating in London.
The two-page letter was published Thursday by a newspaper in Nicosia and its authenticity was confirmed by Christofias.
It lists four obligations by Turkey which Christofias says have been set down by the EU but have not been honored by Ankara.
These obligations include Turkey's support for the negotiations on a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, the withdrawal of Turkish forces from the island of Cyprus, and Turkey's recognition of the Republic of Cyprus.
President Christofias' letter accused Turkey that instead of supporting efforts to solve the Cyprus problem it has engaged in "provocative and inaccurate terminology" in an attempt to disengage from agreements reached at his talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.
He warned that unless there is what he called "visible signs" of a changed attitude on behalf of Turkey, Cyprus will feel obliged to review its position "in consultation with partners towards Turkish accession negotiations in the December European Council, and to take specific measures".
Those measures are not listed in the letter, but Cyprus government sources said they may include blocking more chapters of Turkey's negotiations with the EU or even blocking the adoption of a European Council decision on the continuation of the talks.
Eight out of the 35 negotiations chapters have already be frozen by the EU because of Turkey's failure to harmonize its policies with those of the bloc.
A draft decision document prepared by the EU Swedish presidency does mention that Turkey has failed to fulfill its commitments towards Cyprus but it makes no mention of possible sanctions on Turkey.
Turkey sent troops and occupied the northern part of the island in 1974 in response to a coup by a group of Greek army officers. Ankara has refused to recognize the government of Cyprus Republic, which only effectively controls the Greek Cypriot south.
Source: Xinhua
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