Government Spokesman Nikos Christodoulides has said that May`s parliamentary elections do not have an impact on negotiations for a settlement in Cyprus, which resumed one year ago.
Christodoulides reiterated that efforts are underway, in the framework of the UN-led negotiations between Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, so that common understandings become convergences, recalling that a new meeting between Anastasiades and Akinci will take place on May 6.
Speaking to the press on Monday, Christodoulides said that the two leaders will decide if they will have new meetings before election day, May 22, noting that negotiators will certainly hold several meetings.
Responding to questions, the spokesman said that the pre-election period and the parliamentary elections do not affect the substance of the negotiations. Furthermore, he noted that the discussion of all four chapters which are currently being examined – governance, the property issue, EU and the economy – must be concluded in order to proceed with the discussion of the territorial issue. Moreover he said that the security issue is the last to be discussed.
Asked about the issue of EU visa liberation for Turkey, the spokesman recalled that the European Commission will present on Wednesday its evaluation with regard to the obligations that Turkey must fulfill in the framework of its visa liberalisation roadmap.
He said that the position of the Republic of Cyprus is that Turkey, as any country which wants visa liberalisation status for its citizens, must fulfill certain criteria, adding that there can be no special treatment for any country.
Furthermore, the spokesman said that the decision depends on the European Council, comprising member states, and must have the consent of the European Parliament.
Replying to a question, he said there was no change in the EU leaders` position that there will be no positive decision, if Turkey does not meet all 72 criteria.
“That was the position of EU members states when the issue was discussed on April 28 at the Council level, and Turkey, as any other country, must fulfill these concrete obligations,” he noted, adding that one of these is to allow people carrying passports of the Republic of Cyprus to enter Turkey without visas of other documents.
The spokesman said that unanimity is not required for the decision that will be taken, just qualified majority. However he explained that this is not an issue concerning only the Republic of Cyprus, since many EU member states expressed on April 28 the need for Turkey to fulfill all of its obligations.
Invited to comment on a Financial Times report on the issue, the spokesman noted that a European Commission spokesman has dismissed all relevant press reports.