The President and members of the EU Court “address Cyprus on the basis of principles, that is respect of human rights, respect of the territorial integrity of the states and respect of the Treaty of the EU,“ President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias said on Thursday.
The President noted that Cyprus wants support in talks for the implementation of Protocol 10, which is part of the Republic’s accession treaty to the EU and stipulates that the entire island of Cyprus – including the northern Turkish occupied areas – have joined the EU but implementation of the acquis communautaire has been suspended due to the continuing Turkish occupation and the fact that the legal government of Cyprus is prevented from exercising its jurisdiction on these areas.
Speaking on the sidelines of his first visit to the EU Court in Luxembourg, President Christofias said that in view of Cyprus` EU presidency during the second half of 2012 “we want to strengthen our ties with the various EU institutions and one important institution is the EU Court.“
“This Court is the guardian of depositary of principles on which the EU is based and functions. I am happy to say that the President and members of the EU Court address Cyprus on the basis of these principles, that is respect of human rights, respect of the territorial integrity of the states and respect of the Treaty of the EU,“ he said.
He added that “we address this Court for its principles“ and that “we want to support our efforts and talks for the implementation of Protocol 10, instead of the creation of conditions for primary legislation, as the Turkish Cypriot side says.“
“I believe that the Court is not in favour of permanent derogations from the acquis communautaire and certainly supports the application of Protocol 10 for the implementation of the acquis“ in the areas of Cyprus under Turkish occupation, he said.
President Christofias noted that “we also support the connection of this Court with the European Court of Human Rights.“