Government Spokesman Nicos Christodoulides has said that the Republic of Cyprus will not accept for a Turkey – EU Association Council to be convened unless it is fully aware in advance of the content of any Turkish statements.
In a written statement, on Tuesday, Christodoulides notes that Minister of Foreign Affairs Ioannis Kasoulides has sent a letter to that effect to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy Catherine Ashton.
Having read the unacceptable references contained in the Turkish document which was submitted during the last EU – Turkey Association Council, the Republic of Cyprus has made a series of representations via its EU Permanent Representative to all relevant EU bodies over Ankara`s provocative stance, he adds.
The Government Spokesman further points out that it has also been asked that any third country statement be submitted in a timely manner from now on and in any case before the Association Council meets, so that the document can be read and the EU can react when and where it is necessary to do so.
The government, he notes, has sent the EU the message that the Turkish positions as they are included in Turkey`s document should be reviewed by the relevant institutional EU bodies so that this provocative stance of Turkey can be reflected in this year`s Progress Report on Turkey.
He continues that the unacceptable Turkish positions are indicative of Ankara`s true intentions, namely of the fact that that it ignores the obligations it undertook vis-a-vis the EU when its accession course started.
A process, which is intergovernmental and requires the assent of all 28 member states, whether they may be `defunct` or not, he concludes in a reference to the Turkish document.
Cyprus an EU member since 2004, was divided in 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. UN led talks have been ongoing since February aiming to reunite the island under a federal roof.
Cyprus Government has taken steps over Turkish document, says Spokesman
