THE LEADERS of DISY and EDEK have called for a hardening of Cyprus’ stance regarding Turkey’s candidacy to join the EU, ahead of the progress report by the European Commission (EC) which will be presented in its preliminary form tomorrow and finalised in December.
Speaking to the press following a meeting yesterday with President Demetris Christofias which included a discussion of tactics on Turkey’s accession talks, opposition DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades said that if Turkey fails to fulfil its commitments to the EU by the time of the December report, the government should take a firmer position.
He said that Cyprus should inform the EC in writing that if there is no progress by June 2010, “our European partners should not expect agreement to the opening of any new negotiation chapters” as part of Turkey’s accession process.
EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou went one step further than the DISY leader. In statements to the press following his own meeting with Christofias, Omirou called for Cyprus to “use its rights as a full EU member” – by implication, to call for a freeze on EU accession negotiations or even use its veto – if Turkey has not fulfilled its obligations by December.
Omirou said that a clear message should be delivered to Brussels and Sweden, which currently holds the EU Presidency: “Either Turkey complies with its obligations, or it should be severely criticised by the European Commission in its final conclusions in December and suffer sanctions. If not, the Republic of Cyprus has rights, it is an EU member state, and it should not and is not likely to give up those rights.”
Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou also had a meeting yesterday with Greek Ambassador Vasileios Papaioannou, to prepare the ground for the official visit by Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou next week. Kyprianou said that Turkey’s evaluation by the EU is the main issue of concern for both Cypriot and Greek governments, adding: “It will be the main issue to be discussed with the Greek Prime Minister next Monday”.
Kyprianou said that Cyprus’ position is that all the EU candidate countries should fulfil their obligations towards the EU and its member states. “If not, there should be consequences”, he said, but added: “Punishing Turkey is not our goal”.
The same line was echoed by AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou, who said at a party rally in Athienou yesterday: “Our objective is not for Turkey to be punished if it does not fulfil its commitments. Our objective is to solve the Cyprus problem, and all the efforts we are making are aimed at serving this strategic objective.”
Papandreou’s willingness to actively engage Turkey on its attitude towards Cyprus has been welcomed in many political quarters here. Commenting on Christofias’ handling of the EU-Turkey issue, Anastassiades said that “we are following a course which, with Greece’s co-operation, I believe will be the best for our country.”
