Attempts to agree an EU counter-declaration to Turkey?s declaration that it does not recognise EU member the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member, hung in the balance on Tuesday, as Cyprus’ Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides expressed dissatisfaction with a deal reportedly struck between France and the UK, which holds the EU rotating presidency.
Turkey is due to start accession negotiations on October 3. A counter-declaration is not required, but failure to agree could hold up the so-called negotiating framework, which EU members have yet to agree on.
Chrysostomides said that Nicosia does not yet have at its disposal the draft counterstatement but again criticised the British Presidency, this time for not including Cyprus in the deliberations.
Apart from Cyprus, France has been the main member state pushing for stronger wording over Turkey’s refusal to recognise Cyprus.
Disagreement over the text of any counter-statement that might be issued has led to another souring of relations between Cyprus and the UK in recent weeks as Cypriot leaders have accused Britain of acting in its own, Turkey’s or even the US’s interests.
Chrysostomides said that some manoeuvres of the Presidency do not meet its obligation for objectivity, the Cyprus News Agency reported.
On Monday the Cyprus News Agency reported that the UK and France had reached a deal on a counter-statement and that this would say that prior recognition of all EU member countries is a necessary component of accession to the European Union.
It would also say that “the EU underlines the importance it attaches to the normalisation of relation between Turkey and all EU member states as soon as possible” and that “the EU and its member states agree on the need to support the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General to bring about a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem and that just and lasting settlement will contribute to peace stability and harmonious relations in the region”.
The Greek Cypriot leadership, which rejected a UN-brokered deal to solve the Cyprus problem, has been trying to avoid an apparent link between Turkey’s recognition of the Republic and a solution to the long-running national problem.
The Cyprus government also wants much faster recognition of Cyprus and immediate implementation of the EU-Turkey customs union.
EU foreign ministers will meet again on Wednesday for what could be a last ditch attempt at a counter-declaration.
