Cyprus dismisses efforts to ease Turkey’s EU path

THE GOVERNMENT said yesterday it saw no reason to make sacrifices to smooth Turkey’s path to the EU, when the obligation was on Ankara to fulfil its obligation to the bloc.

Spokesman Christodoulos Pashardis was commenting on reports that the US had come up with a plan to resolve the issue of the EU customs union protocol obliging Turkey to open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot traffic.

Ankara has been told by the EU that it must fulfil its obligation in 2006. Turkey’s accession source is coming up for review at the end of October and it appears the international community is scrambling to avoid another Turkey-Cyprus crisis within the bloc.

Reports surfaced recently that the EU was working on a plan to avert a collision by placing the ports in the north under UN control in return for Ankara adhering to the protocol when it comes to Cyprus.

The reports were denied by all concerned.

However, a new report has surfaced saying the US had come up with a plan to help Turkey smooth over its EU course.

The new plan, according to the reports, is being revised by the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Matthew Bryza, is focused on the opening of the ports and airport of the north in exchange for Turkey’s compliance with the protocol.

Pahsardis said the government had not been informed of any US proposal.
“If there are some circles which are interested in not having an EU-Turkey crisis, the safest way to prevent it is to convince Ankara to fulfil its European obligations and engagements,” he said.

Pashardis said that although Cyprus supports Turkey’s accession, “it is not willing to undertake the cost of Turkey’s European accession course.
“Why should the Republic of Cyprus be called to pay so that Turkey can do nothing more than fulfil its obligations to the EU,” said Pashardis.

“The European governments are aware of the positions and views of the Cypriot government on this issue. We remain steadfast to this position and this demand.”

Pashardis also made it clear that the government was not discussing any alternatives, methods or scenarios as to what will happen if Turkey continues to ignore its European obligations.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.