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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-09-03
CONTENTS
[01] LILLIKAS - TURKEY - EU
[02] DANISH PM - VISIT TO CYPRUS
[01] LILLIKAS - TURKEY - EU
Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs George Lillikas said Turkey "cannot
proceed without implementing in practice the commitments which it
voluntarily undertook towards the European Union," adding that "we
cannot behave as if nothing has happened."
Lillikas said the position of the Republic of Cyprus on this issue "is
and remains steadfast," noting that "we are showing in practice that we
will not concede," but "where we can," that is regarding the opening of
chapters, "the policy we are following is such that does not allow the
smooth accession course of Turkey."
The Minister, who was speaking on Saturday evening at Larnaca Airport
on his return from Brussels, was asked about the warnings of the
Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs towards Turkey regarding the
fulfillment of its commitments towards Cyprus and the EU and the
implementation of the protocol extending its customs union to the ten
new EU members.
Lillikas said if Turkey continued to maintain the same stance, then
"there will be relative reactions and a relative stance on behalf of
the Cypriot government."
Replying to questions, Lillikas said "we do not accept that the acquis
communautaire and the commitments of the candidate countries have to do
with independent matters, or that their implementation and response to
the acquis communautaire permits anyone to negotiate the acquis or
demand anything in exchange."
In this direction, he said, "we do not accept the linking of irrelevant
things, meaning that the developments in the Cyprus problem cannot be
linked to Turkey`s obligations."
[02] DANISH PM - VISIT TO CYPRUS
Prime Minister of Denmark Anders Fogh Rasmussen arrives in Cyprus on
September 4 on a two-day official visit, during which he will hold
talks with President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos.
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