SERBIA AND Cyprus will continue to support each other when it comes to national issues, the two countries’ Foreign Ministers reaffirmed yesterday.
Markos Kyprianou and Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic, here on a two-day visit, discussed Serbia’s EU accession prospects, the Kosovo issue and other bilateral matters.
Speaking after their meeting, Kyprianou said there was convergence of views between the two countries when it came to international political issues.
“We are both dealing with problems that have to do with territorial integrity,” said Kyprianou. “Cyprus’ position regarding Kosovo is clear: Cyprus believes and supports Serbia’s territorial integrity and we feel the one-sided declaration of Kosovo’s independence was not legitimate.” He expressed Cyprus’ support towards Serbia’s EU accession efforts.
“We feel Serbia is ready to start accession negotiations with the EU, so whenever Serbia feels ready, we will examine its application for EU accession and of course we believe it should be judged in the same way that all European countries are judged, with the criteria of the European acquis communautaire,” said Kyprianou.
He added that Kosovo’s “one-sided” declaration of independence was not part of European acquis, as such matters are not covered in the European Common Framework.
“As you know, there are a number of EU member states – among which is Cyprus – that don’t recognise Kosovo and for this reasons we don’t feel it can be a condition for Serbia’s accession,” Kyprianou explained. He expressed Cyprus’ support towards an immediate implementation of the EU-Serbia Connection Treaty. “We are saddened by the delay in implemented it, on part of the EU, due to an objection by one of our partners in the EU.” On his part, Jeremic reciprocated his country’s support towards Cyprus national issues and especially the Cyprus problem.
“Cyrus is our best and closest collaborator in the EU and we are deeply grateful for everything Cyprus has done to support our expectations on all our main national issues,” said Jeremic. “Cyprus can certainly expect the same from us, on all matters of national importance for Cyprus. This was always the case in the past and it shall remain this way in the future,” he added.
