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Nicosia: Cyprus pres. backs Armenia, expects EU sanctions on Turkey

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  • Nicosia: Cyprus pres. backs Armenia, expects EU sanctions on Turkey

    Cyprus News Agency, Cyprus
    Nov 24 2006

    CYPRUS PRESIDENT BACKS ARMENIA, EXPECTS EU "SANCTIONS" ON TURKEY FROM
    MID-DEC


    Nicosia, Nov 23 (CNA) - "The Cyprus problem is irrelevant to and
    cannot be associated with Ankara's commitments vis-a-vis the European
    Union," stressed here tonight Cyprus President Tasos Papadhopoulos.

    Addressing a state dinner given at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia
    in honour of visiting President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan,
    President Papadhopoulos said Turkey's obligations as an occupying
    power as regards the Cyprus problem are a completely different issue.


    "These are obligations that dictate its positive contribution to the
    efforts to achieve a functional and viable solution. The fulfilment
    of these obligations is pending for 32 years now, resulting in the
    continuing forceful division of our country and the terrible tragedy
    of our people," the Cypriot president noted.

    He stressed that "we have supported and continue to support the
    European course of Turkey. However, it is Turkey that undermines this
    course with its continuous denial to comply with the European
    prerequisites and respond in a positive way to the commitments she
    has undertaken. The Report by the European Commission, issued only a
    few days ago, notes this provocative denial by Turkey. A denial which
    in essence equals with contempt of the European accession criteria
    and the European rules of political behaviour," Papadhopoulos added.

    The Cypriot president wondered "when Turkey challenges the European
    Union, of which it aims to become a member, what should be the
    reaction of the European partners? When Turkey refuses to fulfil her
    obligations vis-a-vis the European Union in general and vis-a-vis the
    Republic of Cyprus in particular, what should be the consequences?"

    For certain, he added, the European Union cannot tolerate this
    provocative stand and behaviour of Ankara and has no right to consent
    to a smooth and unhindered course for Turkey, as if nothing happens.
    It is not possible, because of Turkey and for the sake of Turkey, to
    ignore the established European procedures and to bypass the
    statutory European rules, which are valid for every candidate
    country, prior to accession.

    Papadhopoulos said, however, that there is still time for Turkey to
    comply with the recommendations and the demands of the European
    Union. "So far we do not have valid reasons to be optimistic. On the
    contrary, we have sound reasons to believe that it will continue her
    negative stand. And unavoidably, it becomes clear that measures and
    sanctions must be imposed on Turkey by the European Council, in the
    middle of next month".

    "We are not happy with this development, for which Turkey and no one
    else is to blame. From the moment, however, that Turkey entrapped
    itself into provocatively denying to fulfil its European obligations
    there is no reasonable excuse, nor a legal way to avoid measures
    against it," the president added.

    He referred to the friendly ties between Cyprus and Armenia assuring
    his Armenian counterpart that Cyprus "remains firm and consistent on
    issues of principle that concern our steady and loyal friends, like
    Armenia, especially when the issues of principle are common."

    He said Cyprus, as a full member state of the great European family,
    and Armenia as a country participating in the Action Plan, in the
    framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy, have now, one more
    opportunity to promote and expand their relations. Geographically,
    Cyprus, more than any other European country, is closer to Armenia
    and can, through the European Union Policy, become a communication
    bridge between Europe and Armenia.

    "I assure you, Mr President, that Cyprus, within the framework of the
    European Union and on the basis of the European Neighbourhood Policy,
    will support your friendly country in all its European aspirations
    and in all its efforts for participation in European structures and
    markets," Papadhopoulos pointed out.

    Furthermore, he assured him that Cyprus fully supports the Minsk
    Group efforts to achieve a peaceful and viable solution to the issue
    of Nagorno-Karabakh in the framework of the Organization for Security
    and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Such a solution must of course meet
    your own positions and aspirations, the Cypriot President concluded.
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