We will not accept a Turkish EU course `a la carte`, House President Yiannakis Omirou has said addressing an event organized in Greece.
Omirou noted that Turkey`s European course requires compliance with European values and the EU acquis communautaire as well as fulfillment of the responsibilities towards the Republic of Cyprus, which however Ankara refuses to meet.
“We will not accept a European course of Turkey, a la carte”, he stressed.
Omirou noted that Turkey must fulfill all its obligations towards the Republic of Cyprus, as outlined in the EU – Turkey negotiating framework and European Council decisions.
“If Turkey refuses to comply, then this should lead to the final termination of its EU accession course”, he pointed out.
The European Union, he went on to say, should have a more active involvement in fforts to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem.
This, he said, can be achieved with the appointment of a Special Envoy of the EU for Cyprus, who will be a political person and not a technocrat.
Referring to the Cyprus issue, he said that despite the resumption of the Cyprus talks this year, Turkey continues to propose a solution based on `two peoples, two states` and wants to legalise he division of the island and the foreign military presence.
He also said that it is imperative to exploit new geostrategic and geoeconomic developments in the region, adding that there should be no linkage between the Cyprus problem and the discovery of hydrocarbon reserves in Cyprus` Exclusive Economic Zone.
Referring to the economic situation in Cyprus, Omirou said that this should by no means have an influence on the Cyprus issue and should not lead to a bad solution on the island.
The struggle we give today to reach a solution in Cyprus is a struggle for the national survival of the Greek Cypriots, he concluded.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu reached on February 11, 2014, an agreement, which led to the resumption of UN- backed peace talks, with a view to reunite the country under a federal roof.
Turkey, a candidate for EU membership, is the only country in the world which does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus