Greek stance causes concern across the political spectrum

By Martin Hellicar

THE GOVERNMENT yesterday denied suggestions that Athens was softening her stance on Turkey’s EU application.

But the suggestions were yesterday repeated, not just by the opposition, but by a prominent member of governing Disy.

Last week, the European Parliament passed a resolution saying Turkey’s membership would be an important contribution to the future development of the EU.

Though the resolution stressed that Turkey was still a long way from meeting the necessary political and economic criteria for accession, the move was seen as a precursor to Turkey being put on the list of candidate states at December’s EU summit in Helsinki.

The fact that Euro MPs from Greek governing party Pasok backed the resolution was touted by opposition parties in Cyprus as evidence that Athens was changing her stance regarding Turkey’s EU aspirations.

Government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou yesterday said nothing could be further from the truth.

“The government has not noted any change in the position of the Greek government,” he told his daily press briefing.

“The position remains that Turkey cannot enter the EU before it takes certain very specific steps in connection with a series of issues, including the Cyprus problem,” Papapetrou added.

But Disy deputy Prodromos Prodromou did not see it that way, and echoed opposition party concerns about Greek positions.

“There appears to be, recently, a change in the approach of the Greek Foreign Ministry,” Prodromou said.

He said the government should seek clarification concerning Athens’s position.

The Disy deputy said it would be a mistake to accept that Turkey would be given EU candidate status and to negotiate from this standpoint.

Athens has not taken a stand on the EU Turkey resolution, except to note that Greco-Turkish relations are improving and that this could help the Cyprus situation.

Akel member Andros Kyprianou repeated his party’s misgivings about the Greek stance yesterday.

“Our understanding is that the Greek position has changed and we do not know to what extent Nicosia’s has too,” Kyprianou said.

Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides flies to Athens tomorrow for consultations on the Cyprus problem and the EU Helsinki summit.

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.