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Friday, 19 April 2024
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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-06-16Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] PAPADOPOULOS - TURKEY`S EU COURSECypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said he was satisfied with the final conclusions approved in Brussels Friday by the 25 EU leaders during their summit, calling on Turkey to fulfill its obligations under the Association Agreement and its Additional Protocol, which include opening its ports and airports to Cyprus.Speaking at a press conference at the end of the European Council, President Papadopoulos further said that Cyprus` aim is not to interrupt Turkey`s European course but to have it continued, under the inviolable condition that it will fully respect its obligations towards the EU. The President also said he has assurances that the forthcoming report on Turkey`s progress will be ``exact, detailed and, from what it seems, very critical of Turkey`s position.`` He further said ``there is no issue of exercising veto in October or November`` when the EU Foreign Ministers will examine Turkey`s accession course, but ``rather an issue of a decision being taken by the member states,`` adding that more and more leaders are beginning to realise Turkey`s changing attitude as regards its EU course. In his statements, President Papadopoulos referred to paragraph 52 ``where Turkey`s obligation to comply with all the elements contained in the Declaration of 21 September 2005`` is repeated and sets out a review on the progress which Turkey will carry out in fulfilling its obligations towards the EU. ``Until now, not only has there not been any sign of progress but on the contrary there are numerous statements by Turkish officials, such as the Premier and Foreign Minister, who categorically declare that they do not intend to implement the Ankara Protocol,`` the President added. President Papadopoulos said that within the sidelines of the summit he met Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyiannis, as well as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, to whom he ``explained our positions on Cyprus and especially Turkey`s obligation to implement the Protocol.`` President Papadopoulos also said Athens and Nicosia are trying to find the right date for a visit soon by the Cypriot President to the Greek capital. [02] EU LEADERS - TURKEY - OBLIGATIONSEuropean Union leaders called on Turkey to fulfill its obligations under the Association Agreement and its Additional protocol, which include opening its ports and airports to Cyprus.In the European Council presidency conclusions, the EU leaders stress that in 2006 they will follow up on all the issues included in the 21 September 2005 EU Declaration which apart from the protocol also refers to improving relations with Nicosia and stop preventing Cyprus from participating in international organisations. The paragraph on Turkey is as follows: ``The European Council reviewed progress made in the acquis screening and welcomes the start of substantive accession negotiations with Turkey. Turkey is expected to share the values, objectives and the legal order set out in the treaties. The Union is committed to support Turkey in its efforts to comply with the Union`s standards and membership obligations, including the Copenhagen criteria. The European Council recalls, in line with previous conclusions, that the current negotiations are based on each country`s own merits and that their pace will depend on each country progress in preparing for accession measured against the requirements set out in the Negotiating Framework. This includes the fulfillment of Turkey`s obligations under the Association Agreement and under its Additional Protocol, full implementation of which will be evaluated in 2006 as agreed in the Declaration of the European Community and its Member States of 21 September 2005, as well as the implementation of the revised Accession Partnership. The European Council recalls that the Council will ensure, in the course of 2006, a follow up on the progress made on all the relevant issues included in the above mentioned Declaration. The European Council calls on Turkey to intensify the reform process and to implement it fully and effectively, so as to ensure its irreversibility and sustainability as well as to progress towards the complete fulfillment of the Copenhagen political criteria, including the commitment to good neighbourly relations. In this context, any action which could negatively affect the process of peaceful settlement of disputes should be avoided``. [03] CYPRUS - UN RESOLUTIONThe Cyprus government regards the UN Security Council Resolution to renew UNFICYP`s (UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus) mandate as a positive one, despite the fact that the resolution does not adequately cover the serious security problems created as a result of the anomalous situation, caused by the continued Turkish military occupation of the northern part of Cyprus.According to an official statement, ``the Cyprus government notes the fact that the Security Council urges progress towards the resumption of negotiations for a comprehensive settlement and reaffirms its commitment and determination to work to this end.`` In this context, the Cyprus government reminds that its willingness to be involved in the process of preparing the ground for the full resumption of the dialogue has been reaffirmed by the President of the Republic at his meeting with the Secretary General in Paris on February 28. At that meeting the Cyprus government gave its consent to a proposal to establish the necessary mechanism for bi-communal discussions at the technical level, to achieve this goal and to build confidence between the two communities. On its part, the Greek Cypriot side declares that it is ready to respond to the call by the Security Council for active participation in bi-communal discussions at the technical level, under the leadership of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Cyprus. [04] CYPRUS - EMAC - EUROPEAN COMMISSIONProposals for the financing of specific plans of European-Middle East Air Traffic Management Coordination (EMAC) will be submitted to the European Commission by five countries, namely Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, comprising EMAC, Cypriot Minister of Communications and Works Charis Thrasou told CNA.The decision was taken by the five countries during their two-day meeting at the headquarters of Eurocontrol in Brussels, with the participation of representatives of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the European Commission and Eurocontrol. The Cypriot Minister of Communications described the meetings` results very satisfactory and noted that the plans aiming at the administration and control of the security of the EMAC countries` aerospace, the decrease of flight delays in the region and the better group organisation of the aerospace of EMAC countries. The European Commission decided to sponsor EMAC with one million euros. Thrasou said the EMAC countries also decided to look into the possibility of more countries of the region joining EMAC. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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