No hint on Turkey stance
Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos repeated his view that substantial changes are needed to the UN plan when he addressed representatives of the two main overseas organizations, POMAK (World Federation of Overseas Cypriots) and PSEKA (International Coordinating Committee – Justice for Cyprus) on Tuesday.
The “only thing we are pursuing and want is to contribute to a mutually acceptable functional and viable solution. And such solution will not be achieved with decorative changes to the Annan plan,” he said.
The Turkish side “completely refuses to discuss changes to a plan which suits her perfectly.”
However, he admitted that the solution to the Cyprus problem will “necessarily be a compromise, meaning a bizonal, bicommunal federation.”
During his address the President said that he will never make any concessions that will endanger the Republic of Cyprus and the Cypriot Hellenism.
“For us, the issue is not just to close the Cyprus problem…but to solve it right,” the President said, adding “we will continue to struggle with unwavering faith for the final justification of Cyprus.”
Papadopoulos called on the overseas Cypriots to s undertake measures to promote the national cause in their host countries.
“You are being invited now more than ever, to mobilize in your countries and intensify your efforts in every direction and at every level,” he added.
Turkey stance
Papadopoulos did not give much away about what Cyprus’ stance wil be on whether or not to open accession talks with Turkey.
He said that Turkey’s declaration, which said that the signing of the customs protocol does not imply recognition of Cyprus “in substance, negates and nullifies its obligation to extend the implementation of its customs union to the entire Republic of Cyprus which it says it does not recognise.”
“In a few words, Turkey recognises the existence of the Republic of Cyprus as a full and equal EU member state only for an instant. It recognises us only during the voting for the start of the accession of its negotiations with the EU, and ceases to recognise us straight after.”
However, Papadopoulos said the position of Cyprus on Turkey’s EU accession negotiations will become known at the “right time and will take into consideration the general interest of Cyprus and its people.”
He added that in Cyprus there “is only one legal and recognised state, the Republic of Cyprus and its borders extend to the entire domain of Cyprus and do not stop at the Attila line. The occupied areas are not a state but a concoction, an illegal product of invasion and occupation and illegal products cannot be upgraded,” President Papadopoulos concluded.
