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Friday, 19 April 2024
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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-11-26Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>CONTENTS
[01] CYPRUS FM - FINLANDNo one can say what the outcome of the talks at Tampere will be, Minister of Foreign Affairs George Lillikas said, reminding that ``the information we have from different sources is such which does not allow us to state any optimism.In statements at Larnaca Airport before departing for Finland, Lillikas said ``we are going though with readiness, good will and positive spirit``. ``We are going to Tampere in the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean Conference, where the Finnish Presidency will schedule negotiations between the Cyprus government and the Turkish government on ideas presented to us at the beginning of September``, he said. He added that ``we are fully prepared, with all the good will but also with creative statements and our goal is, if there is good will from the Turkish side, to reach an agreement``. We are interested, he continued, for the Finnish initiative to have an outcome in the frame we have set and which includes, in substance, the return of the inhabitants of the town of Varosha. Invited to comment on a press report which said the UN Secretary General is pushing Finland to proceed with the opening of the illegal Ercan airport at Turkish occupied Tympou village, Lillikas said that it ``would be a surprise if the SG of the United Nations makes statements which are outside the framework of the Security Council resolutions, which bind all members states and much more the SG``. He said that this issue was mentioned in the past by the Turkish government and our position was clear that for us it is out of the question. Lillikas also reminded that the Finnish Presidency with public statements and in deliberations with the Cypriot government had officially made it clear that it will not accept new issues to be added to the package of ideas it has presented. Consequently, he concluded, the negotiations will be on the issues included in the package and the illegal airport at Tympou, is not one of them. Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Turkey, a country aspiring to become an EU member state, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus and refuses to implement the EU-Turkey Customs Union Protocol, by opening its ports and airports to Cypriot vessels and aircraft. The Finnish EU presidency is carrying out an initiative to avert a possible EU-Turkey crisis regarding its EU course. [02] PAPADOPOULOS - TURKEY - EUThe continuation of Turkeys EU course and the way this will be done, if the country does not comply with its EU obligations, does not depend solely on Cyprus but on all EU member states, President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos said.He was speaking on the sidelines of a reception he hosted at the Presidential Palace on the occasion of the International Volunteer Day. Asked whether the EU will allow, without taking any substantial measures, the continuation of Turkeys EU course, despite not having fulfilled its obligations and how the Republic of Cyprus sees this, the President replied this does not depend on us alone, but on all member states. Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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