GREECE and Cyprus yesterday backed Turkey’s bid to join the European Union, but said that the neighbour with which they have been at loggerheads for years must first meet EU requirements for entry.
“We believe that a Turkey which will adopt European rules of behaviour … will be a Turkey much better for its citizens and the whole of the EU,” said Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.
“There is no blank cheque,” added Cypriot President Demetris Christofias.
The two allies were speaking to reporters after holding talks during Karamanlis’ two-day official visit to the island.
Referring to the meeting, the Greek PM said the duo had discussed the talks for a Cyprus settlement and the prospects for the near future.
Karamanlis also said that he discussed with President Christofias broader EU matters, such as the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and Turkey’s EU prospects, and exchanged views on regional and international issues, with emphasis on the Balkans and the Middle East.
The Greek premier said he believed Turkey had not made enough progress in various phases of its entry talks, but this was not enough to warrant Greece changing its policy of supporting Turkey’s candidacy.
“Its European perspective for entry presupposes its full adaptation and full adoption of the conditions for one to be a member of the European Union. From there on there is an issue on whether this is being followed in a satisfactory manner,” said Karamanlis.
“The assessment we make … is that right now it is not satisfactory. But I do not think that this should lead, now, to a change in strategy,” he said.
Hopes of a swift resolution on Cyprus received a setback when recent Turkish Cypriot parliamentary elections were won by hardliners advocating a two-state deal on the island, at odds at the federal model now under discussion.
Christofias said the negotiations had not yielded the results he hoped for. “There is a concurrence of views on various issues, but on the larger issues there are still serious disagreements,” he said.
Earlier in the day the Greek PM held separate meetings with the leaders of all political parties including AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou, DISY leader Nicos Anastasiades, EVROKO leader Demetris Syllouris and Green Party leader Ioanna Panayiotou.
Karamanlis arrived at Larnaca Airport just after 1.30pm yesterday. He was accompanied by his wife Natasa, Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis and the rest of the Greek delegation. The group was welcomed by President Demetris Christofias, First Lady Elsie Christofia, Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou, Cypriot Ambassador to Greece George Giorgis and Greece’s Ambassador to Cyprus Vasilis Papaioannou.
During his visit Karamanlis will meet Archbishop Chrysostomos II and the President of the House of Representatives Marios Garoyian. This morning he will also address parliament.
